Indian Dancing Scheduled For 3-Day Pow Wow At Riverfront Park

The sixth annual Northwest Indian Encampment and Pow Wow takes place today, Saturday and Sunday at Riverfront Park in Spokane.

It is hosted by many of the same tribes who gathered near the same spot for thousands of years to fish for salmon. Sponsors are the American Indian Community Center with the city of Spokane and U.S. Bank.

Six years ago, the center and the tribes revived the tradition of a late-summer gathering near the big falls of the Spokane River. Instead of fishing, dancing is now the purpose.

The Indian arts and crafts and food booths will open at 10 a.m. every day. Dancing starts every day at 1 p.m. and goes until 5 p.m. At 7 tonight, Mayor Jack Geraghty will make a welcoming speech, followed by the Grand Entry, in which the dancers parade in regalia. Dancing will continue until 11 p.m. The Grand Entry will be repeated Saturday at 1 p.m. A ceremony will honor veterans.

An Indian art auction will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday in the Forestry Pavilion.

Admission is free.

, DataTimes