Contest Powwow set for weekend of Aug. 14-16

If you go

Grand Ronde Contest Powwow

Grand entries: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14; 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16.

Where: Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9600 Highway 22

Cost: Parking $1 per day or a donation of canned food; $3 for a weekend pass

More info: 503-879-2037

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

More than $35,000 in dance prize money and $20,000 in drum awards will be on the line during the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s annual Contest Powwow set for Friday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 16, under the new arbor at Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9600 Highway 22.

The annual powwow – one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest – drew more than 260 Native dancers in 2014. Dancers compete for prize money ranging from $25 to $1,000 depending on age in 20 categories.

Registration begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, followed by the first grand entry at 7 p.m. Royalty coronation also will be held Friday evening.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, a parade between the powwow grounds and Fort Yamhill State Park will be held at 10 a.m. and include cash prizes. Parade participants will gather in the parking lot at Fort Yamhill and the route will travel down the road and around the powwow grounds, where it will conclude.

On Saturday, grand entries will be held at 1 and 7 p.m. with the deadline for dancer registration set for 2 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 16, the lone grand entry will occur at 1 p.m.

In addition to dancing, the fourth annual youth 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament will be held Friday through Sunday. The tourney is open to middle and high school youth and teams consist of four players regardless of gender. Prizes will be awarded to first- and second-place teams and for winners in the three-point shooting contest. For more information, contact Recreation Coordinator Kendra Steele at 503-879-1921. Deadline to register is Aug. 7.

Honorary host drum will be Bad Soul. Women’s Traditional and Men’s Round Bustle will be the dance specials with $800 first-place awards and four consolation prizes each.

There also will be a Women’s Golden Age special in honor of Tribal Elder Lorene Smith with a $500 first-place award, $200 second-place award and three consolation prizes.

In addition, there will be a Mother/Daughter special with a winner-takes-all prize that is yet to be determined and the Education Committee will sponsor a dance special over the weekend open to all school-age youth.

Master of ceremonies will be Fred Hill, Charlie Tail Feathers will act as head dance judge and Fred Ike Jr. will be the arena director.

New at this year’s Contest Powwow will be a drum contest with an $8,000 first-place prize, $5,000 second-place prize, $3,000 for third and $2,000 for fourth. There will be two $1,000 consolation prizes. Sidrick Baker Sr. will be the head drum judge. Only five non-contest drums will be allowed to set up during the powwow.

Camping at Uyxat Powwow Grounds is available for $5, which includes a parking pass. Parking is $1 a day or a donation of canned food. Weekend parking passes are available for $3.

A shuttle also will transport powwow enthusiasts from Spirit Mountain Casino to the powwow grounds.

No pets are permitted around the powwow arena and the powwow is a drug- and alcohol-free event, and marijuana possession or use is not allowed on Tribal grounds.