Rain dampens pow-wow, no one complains
By Diego James Robles
Special to the Times
SMITH LAKE, N.M., July 18, 2013
(Special to the Times – Diego James Robles)
TOP: Rudy Bob, left, and his brother Victor perform an honor dance on July 13 during the 5th Annual Centertail Powwow and Gourd Dance in Smith Lake, N.M.
SECOND FROM TOP: Fancy Shawl dancer Shyrall Willie, 9, of St. Michaels, Ariz., dances during the intertribal during the 5th Annual Centertail Powwow and Gourd Dance in Smith Lake, N.M.
Head of his family and powwow organizer AJ Yazzie put on the event for the community and especially the youth, whom he said often have nothing to do.
The small local gathering, approximately 75 yards from New Mexico Highway 371 in the developed part of the chapter, was barely noticeable except for teepee standing tall amongst a group of parked cars.
It was hard to tell it was a summer powwow as most people in attendance wore hoodies, jackets and coats due to the chilly conditions and scattered rains. Luckily for everyone involved, the hardest of the rain occurred right after supper break was announced and the dancers conceded the floor.
Probably the only African-American within miles of the powwow, Marvin McCoo of Sanders, Ariz., was there to visit his daughter and see a little bit of dancing. He not only didn't mind the rain but actually welcomed it.
"We need the rain," McCoo said. "God, he says 'OK' and he lets it rain here and then lets it rain there and now we have rain."
One of the highlights of the powwow was the honor dance special put on by the famed Bob brothers of Yah-Ta-Hey, N.M. Now in their fifties, the fancy dancers performed an honor dance shortly after the night's grand entry.
"It can be seen as honoring ourselves but really we are honoring the powwow and the people," Victor Bob said shortly after leaving the powwow circle.
Unlike his still active brother Rudy, Victor rarely dances anymore due to his busy schedule and the fact he doesn't live on the reservation anymore.
"Me and my brother used to dance all the time but now, I rarely dance these days, busy-busy," Bob said with a chuckle.
Like many small family powwows throughout the reservation this one is also in danger of being discontinued as a full annual powwow.
AJ Yazzie and his wife and seven children fundraise and prepare things for the powwow and gourd dance for much of the year. However, he acknowledged that it becomes more challenging year after year, as he gets older.
"This year was just supposed to be a gourd dance but my daughter said 'Let's put on a powwow,' and so we went full-scale, again, but next year we'll do just a gourd dance," Yazzie said while looking at his wet teepee.
Appreciative that the powwow was on again this year, northern traditional dancer Ray Emerson of Albuquerque was one of the few adult male dancers in attendance. Although he visits his home chapter of Smith Lake fairly often, he said one more excuse to come back home is only a good thing.
"These guys are related to me so I decided to help them and come this year again," Emerson said. "It's a pretty good powwow and I get to visit my family."