By Michael C. Guilmette Jr.
Staff Reporter
BAY MILLS — Although the Honoring Our Veterans Pow Wow is still two months away, the Bay Mills Pow Wow Committee is hard at work getting prepared for the annual event.
Committee member Angie Johnson explained that the 2004 Pow Wow, scheduled for June 12 and 13, will be of the same format as last year — a dance competition format — and that planning is well under way. However, what the committee still needs is commitments from participants.
“We are hoping to pick up more [participants] here shortly,” Johnson said, referring to the dancer and drum signup. She added that the committee has posted pow wow announcements throughout Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and they have purchased television advertising to run in April and into May in order to attract participants.
Pow wow attendees will notice some changes this year, beginning with an admittance fee for the event. Johnson said that those who wish to attend will need to purchase a $2.50 button in order to get in the gate. Also, the free dinner that had been offered in previous years will only be for dancers, drummers and VIP participants.
Another change is the raise in the vendor fee from $25 to $100. Even with this change, the committee has already received calls from out-of-state vendors looking to take part in the pow wow.
Johnson said that the committee hopes to get enough participants so that they can award all the money they have earmarked for prizes — about $10,000. According to Johnson, not all of the prize money was given out last year and was returned to the Bay Mills Executive Council.
Johnson also said that the committee has already received $24,000 from the Council, leaving them with $5,000 more to raise. So far, the committee has taken in nearly $1,500 from fundraising.
Johnson said that the committee is already looking to next year's pow wow, and they are starting to do so by holding year-round fundraising. Two “Super Bingos” are planned for Fall 2004, and the committee plans to hold four of these high-prize bingos next year. Johnson said that the funds generated through these events should pay for the entire pow wow, making the committee self-sufficient.
As they achieve financial independence, the committee would also like to add a drum competition to future pow wows, inviting drums from throughout the Great Lakes region.
Johnson also noted that competition pow wows are a departure from the traditional pow wows that have been held in the past, which she likened to large family reunions. She said that the competitions draw participants from a wider area and have been well received by the community.
The council has also taken note of the preparations, having been briefed by Johnson on April 12.
“The council is very encouraging,” Johnson said.
