Latah County Rejects Proposed Indian Powwow

An August Indian powwow called Tatkinmah has been rejected by Latah County.

Deputy Prosecutor Doug Whitney said the idea was snuffed on May 1 when officials gathered to discuss the gathering’s effect on the fairgrounds and the community.

“This was just a review to see if the contract contained all the necessary protection,” he said. “There were no allegations they were going to do anything inconsistent with putting on a nice event for community.”

However, Calvin Nomee of Plummer on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation interpreted the meeting as an insult. He said it implied the powwow organizers were disorganized and a potential threat.

“The reason we are stopping right here and not setting any more tracks forward is because these people do not believe in the past,” Nomee said. “Let them keep Hog Heaven and forget Tatkinmah.”

He was referring to the Moscow area that was originally called Tatkinmah, place of the spotted or young deer. It was Indians’ gathering place to celebrate a bountiful year. The area later was known as Hog Heaven for the plentiful camas root there.

Fairgrounds manager Fran Maki said she was shocked to hear the event was cancelled. Her concern was the powwow was so close to the Latah County Fair, Sept. 14-17.