The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) held its annual Kchi Wiikwedong Anishinaabek Maawnjidowin Contest PowWow this weekend in Peshawbestown.
Due to rain and thunderstorms on Saturday, the PowWow was postponed shortly after 3 p.m. The remaining contest specials were postponed till Sunday, when the contest resumed once again after the PowWow grounds dried.
The event held at the tribe’s PowWow Grounds included a $10,000 drum contest as well as a new dance category added to the lineup: woodland. The emcees this year were Jackson Tahuka and Michael Medawis, with sound provided by ReZonance Productions. Other head staff included head dancers Joyce Petoskey and Devon Pitawanakwat, head veteran Armando Lucio, and head dance judge Koonce Santos-McCauley. The PowWow’s arena director was Cetan Thunder Hawk and the host drum was Meskwaki Nation.
