Thunderchild First Nation Chief and Council held a 15+ Men’s Traditional Special on Saturday evening July 25, during their annual powwow on July 24-26.
“It’s just to honour all traditional dancers that came distances to support the powwow,” said Harvey Thunderchild, a local dancer from Thunderchild First Nation, when asked about why leadership is hosting the special.
Thunderchild estimates around 500 dancers filled Thunderchild First Nation’s brand new arbour. He shared that he really enjoys the singing competition, with around 10 invited drums, and many ‘top-notch’ groups from both Canada, and the United States.
Thunderchild said he is also a powwow dancer himself, so he knows many of the singers across the different drum groups. He dances multiple categories, Men’s Traditional, Men’s Grass Dance, and Men’s Chicken Dance.
“Powwow is everything. It’s meeting friends, old friends, meeting families you haven’t seen for a while, that we all come home to just be a part of something,” said Thunderchild.
Thunderchild said he has been dancing since he was a child, and continues to dance now in his 70’s. He shared that he has been in powwow his entire life, singing with his grandfather, and his father, and all his brothers.
He explained that he enjoys coming to his home community to help out and support the powwow.
Thunderchild said there were close to 40 men’s traditional dancers in the special on Saturday night.
“It was hard to choose, there’s a lot of good dancers. You look at the movement, you listen to the song, and how they relate to that song,” explained Thunderchild, who was also a judge for the special.
“That’s what you look for when you’re judging, you listen to the bells, you listen to the beat of the drum and you watch the movement of the body at the melody of the song.”
The Men’s Traditional Special was open to all men’s traditional dancers aged 15 and over. The dancers danced to nine songs in total, with all different types of songs from different drum groups.
The first song was a straight song from Blackstone, followed by a sneak-up song from Black Bear, and the third song was a crow hop from Bear Creek.
After the first 3 songs, judges picked 16 dancers from the main group. Those 16 dancers then went on to dance a straight song from Mato Pajuta, followed by a double beat song from Ho Chunk Station.
The group was split in half, with the top eight dancers advancing to the next round.
A duck and dive song was sung by Haycreek, and another straight song from Poundmaker for the top eight.
Four dancers were chosen after the first seven songs. The dancers then danced to another double beat song from High Noon, then a straight song from Big Bear, to decide first, second, third and fourth place.
First place was awarded to Nathan Largo from Bear Paw, New Mexico, second place was Camden Scribe, third and fourth place was awarded to Darrace Wahchanta, and Tristan Carter.
