White Eagle Park, home of the modern intertribal powwow and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will be filled with hundreds of campers, dancers and tourists from across the country as the 139th annual Ponca Powwow begins its four-day run on Thursday, August 20.
The Ponca Tribe is known and credited throughout the country for depicting its tradition and culture through song and dance. The Ponca Powwow, also known as the Ponca Celebration, is the home of the original World Fancy Dance Championship contest and Ponca Powwow provides some of the finest singing and dancing in the country.
White Eagle Park is the first property in Oklahoma to be nominated and listed on the National Register as a traditional cultural place. It is located five and one-half miles south of Ponca City in the White Eagle community of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, The Ponca Celebration Committee, headed by Celebration Chairman Jim Kemble, extends an open invitation on behalf of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma to the general public and all tribes to attend the four-day event scheduled for Aug. 20-Aug. 23. Admission and parking are free. Visitors may sit in the bleachers or bring their own chairs.
PROGRAM
Dance sessions will be held daily Thursday through Sunday, with afternoon programs beginning at 2 p.m. in the Rev. Dr. Thomas Roughface (South) Arena and the evening programs beginning at 7 p.m. in the Main (North) Arena.
Visitors are reminded that brush arbors, benches and chairs surrounding the circle are for dancers and their families. In the center of the circle is a brush arbor for the singers and the drum.
The Thursday afternoon program is hosted by the Ponca Chapter Native American Church with Ponca Hethuska songs and family requests. Friday afternoon is hosted by the Ponca Hethuska Society with Ponca Hethuska songs and family requests. American Legion Buffalo Post 38 will host on Saturday afternoon with Gourd Dance, Veterans Songs and family requests. Sunday afternoon will be Ponca Hethuska songs with family requests and Head Staff / Celebration Committee specials.
All specials and giveaways will be held in the Rev. Dr. Thomas Roughface (South) Arena during the afternoon programs.
The Thursday evening program will feature the selection and crowning of the 2015-2016 Ponca Princess. Also will be a special Ponca Women’s Traditional Dress contest open to all ages. Tiny tot dancers ages 0-6 will also compete this first night of the powwow as will Jr. Boys and Girls ages 7-12.
Friday evening will feature teen division contests for boys and girls 13-18 and the Two-Step.
Saturday night will open with the Parade In of all dancers followed by Soldier dances. Dance contests this night are the Women’s Golden Age (55+), all women’s divisions (19-54) and the Feather Pulling Contest.
The final night on Sunday will see all men’s division contests concluding with the World Fancy Dance Championship.
