Northern Cherokee Powwow 2021
by Chief Grey Elk
(It was soooo good that we want to keep the story, photos, and sponsors up for our friends and family to enjoy.)
by Chief Grey Elk
(It was soooo good that we want to keep the story, photos, and sponsors up for our friends and family to enjoy.)
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Anyone who has been in the powwow business very long, knows this is a business and as such, you must make a profit, or you won’t be in the powwow business very long.
The expenses are scary. First you must have porta potties before the people show up, but many of us come a week early to make all of this happen. We all work so this is expense Number 1. Many camp out at the grounds and most stay in motels. Expense Number 2. No matter what we need whether it be electrical, plumbing or whatever, one of us writes a check. Expense number 3. We do eat good. Expense number 4. The potties show up. Expense number 5. 800 to 1000 people generate a lot of trash. Here come the dumpsters. Expense number 6. We had overflow parking donated. Wado Mark Wilson! Three golf carts show up to shuttle folks, especially the handicapped. Expense number 7 oops, I forgot advertising, powwow flyers, etc. Expense number 8, Ok, now let us mow the grounds one more time, mower gas and repairs, this year was scary. Just this spring four figures. Expense number 9. Hey look, the ice machine just showed up. Expense number 10. Did we pay the health inspector? Expense number 11, Ok let’s go over the food list. 50lbs of Hamburger donated, Thanks everyone! Now let us buy some beans, cheese, lettuce, onions, flour, hotdogs, hotdog buns, etc. Expense number 12. Yearly repairs to the Cookshack. Expense number 13, Everyone knows that the drum makes the powwow. We got lucky this year and landed one of the best. Plus, they are a well-trained gourd drum. Expense number 14 to remain a secret. Three motel rooms. Expense number 15. Gas allowance. Expense number 16, Ok we are about ready to powwow. What was that? Thunder! Wow! That cloud is really black. Everyone’s cell phone goes off at once! Tornado eminent in your location. Take cover immediately! Instead of dropping a funnel, which it did 4 miles down range, it dropped 6 ½ inches of water in less that 60 minutes. How is that possible? Any way that was the end of Friday night. Big expense Number 17, Destroyed canopies. Expense number 18 get up early Saturday morning and do damage repair. Do serious anti-rain dance. They are calling for 100% rain all day. Will anybody come? Creator smiles, sun comes out. People start showing up. After China flu, powwows being canceled all over America, the people are pow wow hungry. We broke all records for Saturday. We had vendors that sold out! All I could get out of the rest was a smile and a “We did OK" and can we get a vendor form for next year. Now we are sneaking up on breaking even, we now know a profit is out, but we are thinking of staying all day Sunday. We polled everyone still here. They said let’s do it. Sunday morning, RAIN. We are done. Well not quite. A trip to the farm and home store and 200 feet of chain and barge cable and we start pulling pickups hooked to 40 feet fifth wheels, campers, and motor homes. Now over 5 acres of pristine grass looks like a fresh plowed field. Expense number 19, to be continued into next year. Yikes! Today, Friday, July 2, 2021, we show up to get ready for the Fourth of July parade in Clinton, Missouri, barbeque ribs and fireworks. Expense number 20, But this one does not get counted. This is our reward for everyone that worked so hard. All of the fun we had will come out in the official powwow report to be released soon. A word to all, Fear not, We are Northern Cherokee. If we did not have an indomitable spirit, we would not still be here. Just wait till next year. We will have even more fun! |
2021 Pow Wow and Cultural Gathering was sponsored by:
Full Page Memorial and Business Sponsors
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2019 Powwow Photos!
All had a great time.
What a great time had by all
At our annual 2018 PowWow and gathering!
Your Chief Grey Elk was happy to see so many new people and citizens.
He enjoyed talking to everyone and wants to thank everyone that came to celebrate with us.
We are a large tribal family and appreciate the long distances many traveled to share our cultural gathering with us.
We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you next year, we ask creator to watch over you all and keep you safe.
Chief Grey Elk received many complements from vendors on how well the PowWow was managed, and how well they did. They expressed their excitement for their return next year, and we are pleased to have them!
Donadagohvi
He enjoyed talking to everyone and wants to thank everyone that came to celebrate with us.
We are a large tribal family and appreciate the long distances many traveled to share our cultural gathering with us.
We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you next year, we ask creator to watch over you all and keep you safe.
Chief Grey Elk received many complements from vendors on how well the PowWow was managed, and how well they did. They expressed their excitement for their return next year, and we are pleased to have them!
Donadagohvi
2017 PowWow!
Happy to see so many there.
It Was A Blast!
The Annual Gathering and Pow Wow
Check out the photo highlights from the Annual Gathering and Pow Wow of the Northern Cherokee Nation held September 16-18, 2016 at the Tribal Headquarters located east of Clinton, Missouri.