Department of Tourism
For Immediate Release:  September 6, 2002
Contact:  Neoma Rossow (605) 734-3300

CHILDREN DANCE IN ST. JOSEPH’S POWWOW IN CHAMBERLAIN

St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain is hosting its 26^th annual powwow Sept. 27-28.  The dance, “Gathering of the Wakanyeja” (children), is a contest-based powwow for children.  More than $4,700 in prizes will be awarded.  Spectators are invited to share in the festivities and learn the heritage of the Plains Native Americans.  All activities are free and open to the public.  Seating is limited so bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Friday’s guest registration will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m at the Akta Lakota Museum.  There will be a traditional story telling by Joyzelle Godfry at the Akta Lakota Museum at 1 p.m. Friday with a performance and hoop dance at 3 p.m. at the recreation center. 

Saturday’s guest registration will start at 8:30 a.m. at which time St. Joseph’s school, chapel and residential homes will be open to the public (register at the museum for directions).  Students will give tours, showing visitors where they live, study and play. 

The powwow will begin with a grand entry at 12:30 p.m. at the school’s playground.  Both girls and boys teen, junior and tiny tot categories will be judged individually.  A mass at Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel will be held at 5:30 p.m., followed by a complementary dinner at the picnic pavilion at 6:30 p.m.  The powwow prizes will be awarded at 7:30 p.m. at the playground.

For information, contact Neoma Rossow at (605) 734-3300 or visit www.stjo.org.

St. Joseph’s Indian School Powwow has been designated a “Great Event” by the South Dakota Department of Tourism.  With that designation, the department provides assistance to event coordinators and creates and funds promotions for the event.  The objective of the Department of Tourism’s “Great Events” program is to boost attendance at South Dakota events and to increase economic impact in host communities.

For a free South Dakota travel packet, call 1-800-S-DAKOTA (1-800-732-5682) or visit www.travelsd.com on the Web.

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