09/13/2026
Wellpinit, WA โ Monday September 7, 2026, Spokane Tribe held their Community Pow wow. This is a day to have fun and win $250, $150 or $100 in any of the scheduled categories.
The agenda for the day;
Inter-tribal, Tiny Tots, Menโs Chicken, Womenโs Traditional, Menโs Traditional, Womenโs Jingle, Menโs Grass, Womenโs Fancy, Menโs Fancy, Spokane Tribal Happy Dance, Menโs Traditional Special, Ford Redbone Family, Owl Dance Special for Grandparents, Menโs Duck & Dive Special, Social Dance Sidestep, Hat & Boot special, Inter tribal and Womenโs Switch Dance.
Also, throughout the pow wow the committee had random requests, anyone with these items would get $20 for their item. Items were; duct tape, 2 squishes, hole in a sock, wearing crocs, best freeze pose after a song, Montana drivers license, bunny sticker on the dance floor, yellow sticker on the dance floor and 2 separate energy drinks.
Arena Director Dave Madera kept to the schedule; the Tiny Tots danced in the inter tribals and a dance was held just for them. Each tiny tot received a cash prize.
All categories were open to all ages, young and old were able to compete against each other.
The Hat & Boot special had 38 dancers, young and old, men and women, were competing against each other for $550, $350 and $200. MC for the day Bart Powaukee had Hokah Sound play some country music, the dancers had to line dance and loosen up before the competition. All 38 dancers did a good job but only 3 were able to walk away with the cash prizes. This special is one of the favorites of the day.
The Owl Dance special for all the grandparents was a joy to watch; the grandparents were able to join in on the fun. Three couples were chosen for the cash prizes.
The Duck & Dive, Sidestep and the Womenโs Switch Dance were next on the schedule.
The last dance of the Labor Day Celebration was the Womenโs Switch Dance, the ladies did a fantastic job in dancing fancy, traditional, chicken and grass. The girls looked great, while getting ready for this event the ladies were getting tips from the guys, but as the competition proceeded the ladies looked like pros. Excellent job to all the ladies, you all looked great.
Menโs Traditional Special was held by the Ford Redbones Family. Jerry Ford Redbones planned on holding a special for his father Norman (Tinker) Ford last Friday. The family raised $2100 in 3 days by donations. Tinker danced one more time with his granddaughter 2025-2026 Spokane Royalty Kwana Redbone-Ford. Tinker has throat cancer; he has been staying on course with his treatment. Tinker is a Spokane Tribal Member, Vietnam Veteran, a son, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend.
The winners for the Menโs Traditional Special Honoring Norman (Tinker) Ford; 1st BJ Adams, 2nd Nataos Beebe, 3rd George Meninick Jr and 4th Sam Slickpoo.
Thank you, Tinker, for your years of service, from all the people in Indian Country.
Closing of the 2026 STOI Celebration was at 6:00 pm, colors were retired with tribal drum Bad Canyon singing the last song.
Thank you to all the visitors, dancers, stick game players, bingo players, vendors, basketball players and runners for visiting the STOI Celebration. See you all next year in 2027.
Photos for RP/IRFlett
Note; Album for Monday Community Pow Wow will be posted with more photos. The last of our celebration of 2026.
Thank you for checking out our page, it was a long but fun weekend. Safe travels to all.
