Sun, Sunflowers and Pow-wows

As summer meanders its way through South Dakota, the heat blasts down at ever higher temperatures.  And the winds have, of course, died down so there is nothing to cool us off.  Although as hot as it has been, it would likely be an unwelcome blast of hot air.  This last week-end was the Crow Creek (Fort Thompson) pow-wow and it was 100 degrees every day.

I now know that a local pow-wow is like a big Native American festival.  There are food stands – Indian tacos, fried bread, walking tacos, regular tacos, smoothies, and on and on.  Locally it is held in the permanent outside pow-wow area about a block from my house.  There was a parade with people on horseback, one I saw on burroback, cars with people in, on and all around them.  Of course, there’s the dancing, drumming and singing.  Women, men and little children in beautiful Native clothing – the style of dress depends on the dance they do – grass, chicken and some others that I don’t recall.  How they could wear all their garb with the temperatures I’ll never know.  Where there’s a will, there’s a way I guess.

There are prayers of thankfulness, honoring of ancestors as well as those who have served in the Armed services.  Multiple tents were pitched alongside some RVs as people settled in for the week-end festivities.  I spent only a brief time there given the 100 degree heat although there were babies, young and old all there to partake who seemed oblivious to the sweltering temperatures.

It seems clear to me that the writer of our national anthem was in the plains during August.  Truly there are amber waves of grain in the multitude of fields in South Dakota.

Recent weeks the sunflowers have come into bloom, fields and fields of them.  What a beautiful sight as their merry little faces follow the sun.  Although someone said they feed cattle with them, I prefer to think they are growing those wonderful seeds we all snack on and add to salads.

I shall try to catch up soon with the rescue missions I’ve been doing here on the res – we’ve rescued four dogs in the past few weeks.  But for now, this is it from the little house on the res….