In a packed auditorium, the drums of local Native artists boomed, all but shaking the 100-plus Longmont attendees.
On March 30, local Native artists gathered together at the Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium for a powwow. The assembly, part of the museum’s stretch of Thursday night events, featured traditional Lakota tribal music, storytelling by renowned native artist, Red Feather Woman and a historical jaunt through the dance of the local culture.
One part concert, one part group meditation and all parts tribal history, the event demonstrated the cultural integrity that still stands amongst the Indigenous peoples.
“We’re still carrying on traditions. We’re still moving forward,” said Steve LaPointe, the emcee of the powwow. “We’re looking to maintain our legacy and let everyone know that we’re here for them and vice versa.”
If standing out was the goal, the powwow passed with flying colors and buffalo robes. The music was bombastic. The stories were rich with lessons, highlighting both spirituality and the need for cultural understanding. The familial durability was strong.
Calvin Standing Bear Jr., son of a Lakota composer and flutist, prefaced a song by noting his parental influence. “My father played, so I did too. He taught me professionally … This flute is special to our people. I believe it has healing energy, too.”
All the artists were local to the Colorado region, all amalgamated by LaPointe.
LaPointe noted, “Pulling from our local powwow community, we have a huge amount of talent. Everyone is very successful, and I wanted to highlight that.”
The powwow is just a sprinkle on top of Longmont’s efforts to honor the local Indigenous peoples. In 2021, the City Council and Longmont's Museum Advisory Board drafted a land acknowledgment to recognize the original stewards.
LaPointe sat on that board.
“Longmont has been taking great strides to go past just land acknowledgment,” he noted. “They let us represent ourselves and have a seat at the table. That’s what our community needs and that’s what we want.”
But the effort and desire for learning are more than just a facade. The powwow filled the auditorium, leaving some to standing room in the back.
“There’s a longtime history of different tribes in Longmont,” LaPointe said. “To come here and have this turnout shows me where the heart of the people is. They’re open-minded and willing to learn. That’s all we can ask for.”
LaPointe and the rest of the local Native artists will be holding another powwow at Colorado College Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs on April 8.
