Sauk-Suiattle Tribe’s powwow has new home in Darrington

Published 10:25 pm Saturday, August 7, 2010

DARRINGTON — In just seven weeks and with less than $60,000, the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe has transformed acres of pasture land on its reservation into a new grounds for its annual powwow.

Sauk-Suiattle’s powwow, attended by tribal dancers, drummers and stick game players from as far away as Oklahoma, was staged for many years at the Darrington Bluegrass and Country Music Association’s concert grounds 10 miles down the road.

When the tribe decided earlier this summer to reschedule its powwow to the first weekend in August, tribal housing director Lyle Barney took on the job of building the powwow grounds. It will also be used for sporting events and youth camps.

The new facility, called 4 Cedars, includes campgrounds, a back lot for vendors, a leveled and freshly sodded field for dancers and terraced seating for audiences.

A complete outdoor kitchen, large enough to serve hundreds of people, sits on the ridge above the powwow grounds. The stone walls of the kitchen are as impressive as the adjacent concrete fire pit. Outfitted with large grill grates that can be raised by a manual hoist, the fire pit is perfect for preparing salmon dinners.

“We’ve received lots of compliments,” said Sauk-Suiattle chairwoman Jan Mabee. “You surround yourself with smart people and they make you look good.”

Mabee credited a tribal team of 15 teenagers and their five Washington Indian Training Program supervisors for doing most of the hard work. Instrumental in getting the grounds finished and the powwow off to a good start were Cindy Harris, Aaron Harris, Eric Armstrong, Bill Traylor, Blain Wolten and Curtis Masines, Mabee said.

Attendance at this year’s powwow, which concludes today, is the best ever, she said.

“Lots of people have come to see what the Sauk-Suiattle people have done for themselves on their own land. It’s a point of pride,” Mabee said.

Nearly 200 dancers, 100 drummers and many stick game enthusiasts from dozens of other American Indian tribes will continue to compete today for prizes.

Natasha Scott, a member of the Warm Springs Tribes in Oregon, lives in Everett, where she plans to attend community college in the fall.

Scott, 20, has been attending powwows since she was a baby and has been a competitive dancer since age 11. Powwows are a good place to see friends, said the young woman, who hopes someday to be a doctor.

In her heavy, elaborately beaded buckskin dress and moccasins, Scott waited under a tent Saturday hoping the rain would stop before her dance.

The colorful dancing and inspiring drumming and singing competitions and displays are open free to the public.

Saturday’s salmon feast also was free to powwow participants, tourists and the Darrington community.

Hovering over the alder smoke in the fire pit, tribal employee Scott Morris and tribal member Kevin Lenon lifted morsels of chinook salmon for a taste test.

Just right, Lenon said with a wink.

After two days of cleaning, filleting and grilling 500 pounds of salmon, Lenon and Morris were ready to eat.

It would be awhile, though. Before the long dinner line was served, children delivered plates of food to the elders seated in the dining tent.

Later, there was more dancing.

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldent.com.

Powwow today

The Sauk-Suiattle Powwow continues today at 4 Cedars, milepost 54, Highway 530, northeast of Darrington.