Spirited Songs Christian Singers Gather At Spokane Indian Reservation

It was a solemn moment during an otherwise lighthearted, even raucous weekend.

Hundreds of people stood in a big circle, with flickering candles raised above their heads, praying to God. Only the children moved, kicking up dust as they darted through the circle.

“We live in a chaotic world,” said the Rev. Ray Kenmitz, a Presbyterian minister. “We are at a time in our lives where there has never been a greater need for prayer.”

Then Jim Wynne broke in with his rendition of “You Are my Sunshine.” And he couldn’t even remember all the words.

Things were getting a little too weighty for the Wellpinit Gospel Songfest, an annual gathering of Native American Christian singers on the Spokane Indian Reservation which ended Sunday.

“This is a fun time,” he said. “And it’s almost over, so we should make the most of it.”

Musicians, families and the faithful had begun rolling into the Spokane Indian Powwow Grounds at Wellpinit on Friday afternoon. They set up tents, campers, amplifiers and audio systems.

Gordo Horn was among the first to arrive. A performer from Heart Butte, Mont., he spends his summers on the road, performing Christian music.

A mainstay at the Wellpinit event, Horn has been there since the very first songfest nine years ago. He can’t wait until next year - the 10th anniversary.

“It’s a beautiful life,” he said of his travels. “The friends you make and the people you meet - it’s beautiful.”

Horn said he was a “full-fledged, certified alcoholic” when he went to his first songfest in Browning, Mont., more than 15 years ago.

“I didn’t know who God was back then,” he said. “I just went because I wanted to play lead guitar.”

About the same time, Jim and Dossie Wynne and her family began an annual trek to Browning to visit family and attend the songfest, which was doubling in size every year.

Eventually, the Wynnes, with the help of fellow Catholics, called for a meeting of all the Christian churches on the Spokane reservation.

From there, the Wellpinit Gospel Songfest was born. Since then, similar events have sprung up on reservations across the country.

There’ll be one in two weeks in Nespelem, Wash. Another is scheduled for later in August on the Muckleshoot Reservation near Auburn, Wash. Browning’s is the last weekend in September.

“This kind of event is real popular because it’s fairly easy to put on,” said the Rev. Jake Morton, Catholic priest for the Spokane reservation. “There’s not a lot of structure to it.”

Tell that to the four women who cooked and served meals for more than 400 people.

“It’s a good kind of tired,” Dossie Wynne said Sunday as she sat down for the first time in what seemed like three days.

Wynne, along with Marie and Mikki Samuels and Sherri Garry, cooked hams, turkeys, roasts and casseroles for anyone who showed up.

Presbyterians made the desserts and Assembly of God church members made salads. No one was turned away - even for second helpings, even when the food ran out Friday night and the cooks had to dig into the supply reserved for the rest of the weekend.

Just like the food, the music flowed all weekend. More than 25 individuals and groups took the stage.

Horn and his two bands, The Breakfast Club and New Creation, were among the most popular.

Crooning soulful country gospel songs to crowds across the country is his way of spreading God’s Word, Horn said.

“If you touch one person, that’s all you need to make it worthwhile,” he said while packing up instruments Sunday. “I look at all these smiles, and I know we touched more than one person this weekend.”

Horn points to a summer day in 1986 when he turned his life around after attending church with a friend. Since then, he has turned his talents to Christian music.

“Playing in bars is a great way to support an alcoholic life,” he said. “I loved my music, but I didn’t want to live that way anymore.”

As admirers hugged him and drove away from the powwow grounds humming his songs Sunday, Horn reflected on his choices.

“Prior to my conversion, I had maybe two friends,” he said. “Now, I couldn’t count them all.”

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