All-Diné contest among new features at powwow

The prize money is available and ready to be paid out for winners of the Navajo Nation Fair Contest Powwow, said powwow committee member Ervin Keeswood.

The fair powwow this weekend, unlike the recent Central Navajo Fair, is funded by the tribal government and Keeswood emphasized that prize money would be paid out Sunday to all contest winners.

At least one dancer who took part in the Central Navajo Fair Contest Powwow has complained about not receiving the promised prize money.

"In the past several years the Navajo Nation has had a bad reputation because of some family-run and -organized powwows that never paid out," Keeswood noted.

"The tribe backs the Navajo Nation Fair Contest Powwow so the payout is a guarantee," he said. "The money is there. For the past three years that we've run the powwow, we've guaranteed the money is there and we've been trying to bring back the powwow to a respectable level."

New contests

The drum contest will award one prize, rather than giving separate prizes for northern- and southern-style singing. The first-place purse is $10,000 plus a cargo trailer.

The size of the purse has drawn interest from some of Indian Country's top drum groups, Keeswood said, an indication that the competition may be stiff.

That noted, Keeswood believes Navajo Nation drum groups can equal the singing talent of any top-level group on the national powwow circuit.

To give the Navajo drum groups a chance to go head to head with each other, this year's powwow also will feature a Navajoland Singing Challenge, a separate contest just for drums from the Navajo Nation, on Saturday afternoon.

The drum groups will each perform two songs, one in Navajo and the other a vocable, and both must be original compositions. The first-place prize is $4,000.

There will also be contests to choose the best four-man hand-drum group and best four-women backup singers.

Another new feature is a dance contest that blends powwow dancing with cowboy culture.

"This event is bringing the two different groups together, the cowboys and cowgirls and powwow dancers," Keeswood said. "There is so many talented people in rodeos and this event will give dancers a chance to pay tribute to their particular cowboy or cowgirl."

To compete, the powwow dancers add items of cowboy gear - ropes, vests, cowboy hats, chaps, etc. - to their regalia. First-place winners in the cowboy and cowgirl categories receive $1,000.

It's winner-take-all in the all-around competition, and male and female dancers will compete for $5,000 in their respective categories.

New canopy rule

In other powwow news, a rule has been added to govern the use of canopies along the perimeter of the dance ground, which drew complaints from many spectators that they blocked view of the dancers.

Committee members are asking that people who erect a canopy for sun protection during the afternoon remove the canopy at sunset.

Keeswood said he explored the idea of erecting a cover to shade the entire arena from the fierce afternoon sun, but couldn't work out the logistics in time for this year's event. In the meantime, canopies are allowed but for sunny afternoon sessions only.

Committee members urge powwow-goers to abide by all laws and rules, and to be courteous to one another.

Admission to the fairgrounds is $4 for adults, $2 for children and seniors. Parking on the fairgrounds is $4 per vehicle. Dancers and singers are encouraged to fill out a W9 tax form when they register in case they win.

The Navajo Nation Fair Contest Powwow starts Friday, Sept. 11, with a gourd dance at 3 p.m., followed by the grand entry at 7 p.m.

Saturday's schedule is the gourd dance at 11 a.m., with the grand entry at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday's gourd dance begins at 11 a.m. with the final grand entry at 1 p.m.

Keeswood reminded powwow-goers that the Navajo Nation Fair parade takes places Saturday morning on State Route 264, which means the road will be closed from 7 a.m. until early afternoon.

"If people want to make it to the gourd dance, give yourself enough time to leave early," he said.

Onsite camping is available and, according to Keeswood, campers should contact the Parks & Recreation Department for a permit and information. The camping permit costs $30 and covers the entire weekend but space is limited.

Information: 928-814-4650, 505-368-5965, 505-402-8823, or ervinkeeswood@aol.com, nabahe2005@yahoo.com, jrksouthernoutlawz@yahoo.com, or attakai77@yahoo.com.

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