ALLENDALE, Mich. — The sounds of bells on ankles were heard as dancers prepared for the powwow mixed the arouma of Indian frybread being prepared, as parents assisted put finishing touches on their children’s regalia, in the fieldhouse on Saturday. Shortly after 1 p.m. the 22nd Annual Celebrating All Walks of Life Powwow was underway at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in Allendale, Michigan, near Grand Rapids, this weekend.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the first time the powwow has been held since 2019 at GVSU.
“It was nice to see the return of the powwow after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. To welcome back and to celebrate with our community is exciting,” Lin Bardwell (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians), assistant director in GVSU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, said.
Shannon Martin (Potawatomi/Ojibwe) served as the emcee. She guided attendees to the powwow etiquitte throughout the powwow.
Native News Online’s reporter, Neely Bardwell (Odawa), is a fancy shawl dancer.
For Om Mohapatra, an Asain Indian, Saturday’s event was his first powwow he ever attended. A student at Lansing Community College, he attended with his girlfriend, who is Odawa.
