Watch a video of Indian Country relecting on high gas prices“It's pretty hard these days,” said Sam who lives in White Swan, Wash. “The drum takes care of our gas money. If we get any money dancing, that's more fun. This summer we almost stayed home, but my mother-in-law lives over here.
“Gas hurts,” said Sam. “But we'll keep going.”
But even with gas prices exceeding $4 a gallon, most singers, dancers, vendors and spectators are still managing to attend dance celebrations. Filling up the tank is more difficult, though, so many are staying closer to home or finding someone to ride with them to split the cost.
Powwows connect many Native people with a wide social circle of friends and family. Others rely on income earned through drum or dance contests. Others sell arts, crafts, clothes or food.
At summer's start, Susan Robinson, her husband and four children packed their dance gear and left their home in Franklin, Tenn., near Nashville. So far, they've competed in powwows and visited family and friends in Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming.
The Robinsons recently set up camp at a powwow in Arlee, yet another stop before reaching their final destination, a powwow in Alberta, Canada. There aren't many Natives in Tennessee, Robinson said, so her family saved $5,000 for their 2,200-mile powwow road trip.
“We love being here,” she said. “It's worth it.”
Vendors Judy Matt and Jerry Suko from Tucson, Ariz., travel across the United States selling silver and turquoise jewelry at powwows or conferences. Gas prices were affecting customers' pocketbooks, leading them to buy less expensive items, said Matt.
“Our shows have been OK,” said Suko. “It just cost us twice as much as it used to.”
The vendor couple expects their jewelry prices to increase when they complete their next buying trip in September because gold and silver prices have doubled.
Matt and Suko, owners of Native Built, spend each summer in Montana and travel to community dance celebrations in the region. The Arlee powwow is always a favorite. This year, the couple noticed many familiar local faces, but they saw a considerable decrease in international visitors. And there were also fewer vendors who had traveled long distances.
“There's no Navajos here,” Matt said, noting all the empty spots once occupied by Navajo arts and crafts sellers from the Southwest.
“Usually, there's a half a dozen,” said Suko. “I was surprised. It's probably because they can't afford to pay the gas.”
A few faces from the north won't be seen here, either.
Damien Jones, a singer with Little Southern Cree, a youth drum group from the Rocky Boy's Reservation, said his group wanted to fill a recreational vehicle and travel to states like New Mexico and Texas for singing contests.
“We didn't have enough gas money,” he said. “This year we were going to go down south, but it's not as likely.”
Reach reporter Jodi Rave at 800-366-7186 or jodi.rave@lee.net.
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