The Lakale'l Be Pow-Wow begins tonight at the Carson Indian Colony and continues through the Nevada Day weekend.
The Carson Indian Community and Pow-Wow Committee will host dancers, singers and Native American vendors with foods and arts and crafts from throughout the United States and Canada.
This alcohol- and drug-free event is open to the public for a $3 donation. Children under 6 and elders 55 and older are free.
The doors open today at 3 p.m. and the grand entry, led by Little Miss Washo Dawneva Lundy-Bryan and Miss Washo Sari Payne, starts 6 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the doors open at 10 a.m. Grand entries are at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.
The powwow will feature social dances will inter-trails and contest dancing. Competition will be open to all ages.
A cradle-board competition will be open to all mothers with babies in a cradle board. This is judged on unique style of beadwork and willow work as well as design.
There will also be a drum contest with both southern and northern styles of singing contestants. Judging is based on timing, readiness at the drum, respect and knowledge of song for each dance category. Judging runs throughout the three-day event. At the end of the powwow the winners are announced. They will be competing for a $1,000 prize.
The hand drum contest will also be held. Each singer will choose his or her song and a hand drum is used to keep rhythm. Many songs are very old and usually are family songs. They are traditional round or circle dance songs or hand game songs. Judging is done by singers.
The committee is seeking interested young ladies 13-18 years old for the Princess Contest. They must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe. The current Princess is Renee Rogers, a Washo/Paiute from Yerington. She has done an outstanding job during this past year in representing the Lakale'l Be Pow-Wow. She has traveled extensively throughout the West to various powwows and gatherings.
This year's event is sponsored by the Carson Community Council, Washo Tribe of Nevada and California, Nevada Arts Commission and Carson City Tourism Office.
For more information, call 885-6818 or 887-1481.