Book Review by Barbara Gray: 2004 Powwow Calendar

Jerry Lee Hutchens. 2004, Powwow Calendar 2004: Directory of Native American Gatherings in the USA & Canada . Tenn. Book Publishing Co., Pp. 159. $9.95

Jerry Hutchens’, Powwow Calendar 2004: Directory of Native American Gatherings in the USA & Canada, is an excellent resource that will benefit a wide audience of readers both native and non-native.

The book is well organized. It is easy to use and read. The book begins with three articles. One explains powwow etiquette. Another discusses Pueblo etiquette. The third article discusses the powwow today. Then, the book continues with a monthly calendar of powwows and Native American events.

The book is not just about powwows, it also contains festivals, dances, art shows, rodeos, and other Native American related cultural events. For example, listed in the book are the World Eskimo/Indian Olympics, the Santa Clara Feast, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Fair & Rodeo.

The book is organized by month and date. In addition, a local listing index helps readers to view powwows and other Native American related happenings within a specific location. This section is further broken into happenings in the USA and events in Canada . The index makes researching quick and easy.

Each entry contains a variety of information that will be helpful to those wanting to attend the event. The book will enable dancers, performers, artisans, vendors, and other attendees to better plan for these events.

Entries provide the event’s time, place, contact numbers, and in some cases email addresses and Website addresses where more information can be found. For example, the Kanatsiohareke Summer Festival, scheduled for the last weekend in June, is listed along with an email and Website address.

Sparingly, throughout the book are interesting advertisements related to native arts, music, and peoples. There is also a notice for the Lori Piestewa Fund. Piestewa, a Hopi, was the first Native Woman to die in the Iraqi War. She left behind two small children, under the age of 5, who are currently being raised by their grandmother. In her memory, during powwows this year expect to see blanket dances performed to collect monies to help her family.

As the book forewarns, all information was double checked and correct at the time of printing, but it is up to the reader to call and confirm the dates and places because even with the best efforts, things can change. If you have an event that you would like to see in the 2005 Powwow Calendar, you can write to the publisher and be listed free of charge. However, the publisher needs to have the information by September, 1, 2004 for inclusion in the 2005 edition.

If you are interested in purchasing this book click on the following link: 2004 Powwow Calendar

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Created February 2004