4th annual Rock Ledge powwow Sept. 21
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Two Native American elders, along with military veterans and first responders, will be honored as part of the fourth annual Garden of the Gods Powwow at Rock Ledge Ranch.
Featuring at least 50 dancers in traditional regalia from 30 or more tribes, the event will be Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8, with price breaks for ages 55 and over and 17 and younger. Past attendance has neared 4,000 people. Free parking is available in the Rock Ledge lot off Gateway Road at 30th Street. A non-competitive event, the powwow will open with live drumming and the ceremonial gourd dance for warriors or war veterans. The Grand Entry, which will introduce all the participating tribes, is set for 1 p.m., with various types of Friendship Dances throughout the afternoon. The two elders, Sebrena Forrest and Carrie Howell, will be recognized for their “continued efforts in the Colorado Springs community, working in education and with other elders and youth,” explained Jimmy “Blackwolf” Ramirez, who is part of the event committee (primarily consisting of the Colorado Springs Indian Center and Rock Ledge Ranch's volunteer Living History Association). “They will be honored with a pouch of tobacco, certificate of recognition, a blanket and an honor dance.” An honor dance will also be performed for veterans in attendance and another for those who were first responders at the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires and Manitou Springs floods. In addition, “a blanket will be laid out in the circle to generate funds for the nonprofit organizations that provide resources to the victims of the recent natural disasters,” Ramirez said. As in past years, participants at the powwow are expected to arrive from different parts of Colorado as well as from other states. He added that much of the financial support for the event has come from Westside businesses. “We anticipate a great powwow this year,” Ramirez said. Westside Pioneer article |