Photo courtesy United Tribes News

The ledger art, “We Protect our Families,” by Tom Red Owl Haukaas, Rosebud Lakota, is the image on the 2009 United Tribes International Powwow poster. The work will adorn wearable and collectible items for sale at the event.

Tools

Lakota ledger art selected for pow wow poster

By Staff reports

Story Published: May 31, 2009

Story Updated: May 29, 2009

BISMARCK, N.D. – A work of contemporary ledger art has been selected to represent the 40th Annual United Tribes International Powwow. “We Protect our Families” is a work by artist Tom Haukaas, Rosebud Lakota.

“We Protect our Families” depicts two armed warriors fleeing on horseback after rescuing a third companion. One warrior balances himself on his surging mount to fire his rifle at a threat behind.

Ledger drawing was common among Lakota and other tribes on the Great Plains in the latter part of the 1800s. Drawn on the lined pages of accounting books, the images usually revolved around battle showing individual achievement. The style was revived in the 1980s as an art form used by contemporary American Indian artists, including Haukaas.

United Tribes International
Powwow Head Staff

Announcers: Butch Felix, Corky Old Horn and Jim Clairmont
Arena Director: Michael Roberts
Singing Judge: Kenny Pratt Sr.
Head Woman Judge: Stephanie Charging Eagle
Head Man Judge: Lakota Clairmont
Ground Blessing: Marcel Bull Bear


Dr. Haukaas is a scholar and psychiatrist as well as artist; he resides in Florida. His work is included in the collections of the Peabody Essex Museum, the Denver Art Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art. His work has been on display at the Price Dewey Gallery, the Institute of American Indian Art, both in Santa Fe, N.M. and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

“We Protect our Families” was drawn by Haukaas in the late 1980s. The original is in the United Tribes art collection. As designed, the work makes the pow wow poster an unusual horizontal image. The work will adorn wearable and collectible items used to promote the 40th anniversary event.

Known as “Home of the Champions,” the United Tribes International Powwow takes place the weekend after Labor Day, Sept. 10 – 13 on the campus of United Tribes Technical College. It has been held annually since 1969. The event offers $80,000 in prize money for dancers and drum groups, and a vibrant display of American Indian culture for spectators. “Tribes” is the summer’s last, large outdoor pow wow on the northern Great Plains. In recent years it has attracted upwards of 800 dancers, and more than two dozen drum groups.


Schedule

The pow wow begins with the first Grand Entry at Lone Star Arena, in the center of campus, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. Subsequent Grand Entries are held Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Central Time), and Sunday at 11 a.m. It concludes with awards for champion dancers and drum groups on Sunday evening, Sept. 13, following a free buffalo meal for all dancers, singers and visitors.

All first place winners receive jackets, gold medals and cash. Second through fifth place winners receive medals and cash. The first 25 drums are paid; tiny tot dancers earn day money. A $15 entrance fee guarantees admission to all dance and drum competitions for all four days. Daily admission is $8. Elders (60 and over) and children (5 and under) enter free.


Miss Indian Nations

Young American Indian women who know their culture are invited to participate in the Miss Indian Nations scholarship pageant. The 17th annual event is set for Sept 9 – 12 during the pow wow. The event is a scholarship program for single, non-parent American Indian women between age 17 and 25 who can demonstrate a command of tribal values, customs and teachings.


Youth Day

School classes and groups are invited to Youth Day at the pow wow. The music and cultural event is a learning opportunity about Native culture. Included are presentations, music, dancing and a performance by the pow wow’s featured cultural group. Youth Day begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11 and runs through the morning. School groups are admitted free of charge.


Parade of Champions

The United Tribes Parade of Champions, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12 through downtown Bismarck. The event features dancers, singers, tribal groups, tribal leaders, Miss Indian Nations participants and groups from the community. Cash prizes are awarded in four categories of judging.


Intertribal Summit

The 13th annual United Tribes Intertribal Council Summit meeting takes place Sept. 9 – 10, prior to the pow wow, at the Bismarck Civic Center. Tribal, federal and state officials discuss current Indian country issues and attend a trade fair.


Sporting Events

Two sporting events associated with the pow wow are a benefit golf tournament Thursday, Sept. 10 at Apple Creek Country Club and a softball tournament Sept. 12 – 13 for women and men’s teams.

For more information about the pow wow and associated events contact Sandy Erickson, serickson@uttc.edu, (701) 255-3285, ext. 1293.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

By posting a comment, user agrees to all Terms Of Use. Comments may also appear in other website locations and in other Indian Country Today products, without notice and at the discretion of Indian Country Today.

Indian Country Today and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand