"Indian culture and identity make important contributions, not only to our people but also to the rest of the nation and world. But when you look back down history’s long path, you can see that some of key aspects of that culture and identity have been lost. The old ways of governing and of raising our children, of enforcing discipline and ensuring law and order, of practicing medicine and watching what we eat and most important, of living our spirituality: It’s sad that these seem to have been trickling out along that path.

I see the changes when I’m at an event such as the powwow. I’ve been away from Fort Berthold, N.D., for many, many years, it seems to me. When did I miss so many cultural changes? Some of the younger powwow dancers’ steps were different, I could see. They’ve probably incorporated some fancy steps that they’ve gleaned from today’s popular music and dance.

The image of a powwow at White Shield, N.D., some 60 years ago came to mind. I could see my grandmother dancing — her head held high, her back straight and her hands on her hips — moving to the drum song and waving a white handkerchief at a certain time.

Men sat on one side and women on the other in those days. I can even remember the smell of burning wood from the wood stove in the middle of the room, as well as the smell of the kerosene lamps that tickled my nose."

Get the Story:
Dorreen Yellow Bird: In with the old, out with the new (The Grand Forks Herald 1/7)
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