PORCUPINE, ND (KXNET) — The 37th annual Porcupine Celebration was held in Porcupine over the weekend. Porcupine is located in Sioux County in North Dakota, roughly 50 miles south of Mandan. The main events at the celebration were the pow wows. “When it first started many years ago, it was a tiny barn…but it was […]
PORCUPINE, ND (KXNET) — The 37th annual Porcupine Celebration was held in Porcupine over the weekend. Porcupine is located in Sioux County in North Dakota, roughly 50 miles south of Mandan.
The main events at the celebration were the pow wows.
“When it first started many years ago, it was a tiny barn…but it was made of cotton wood trees and branches on top of the roof. Now it’s big pow wow and an annual thing. And we get a lot of people from everywhere,” shares attendee Charles Murphy.
Murphy shares that pow wows hold special significance for himself and others.
“It’s important to our people. It helps with some economic development for our people. And it works, and also it brings family back together too,” he says.
Many Native Americans and non-Native Americans gathered for the event. Jim Gross says it’s all about bringing people, no matter what their ethnicity or culture are, together.
“It’s just a tradition a lot of people have,” says Gross. “It’s just good to see everything that’s celebrated here for many years. It goes back down to culture and customs and tradition, which is important. We need to keep those in our lifetime so that goes down to other families down the road.”
Gross shares that it’s important for the younger generation to get involved with pow wows. He says it not only exposes them to the culture but helps them learn more about who they are.
“It’s a celebration! That’s the big point. It’s a celebration!” exclaims Gross.
The celebration was in honor of those who have gone before us.
Hundreds of people were in attendance, and many participated in the pow wow. Organizers hope to see the crowds continue to grow next year. The Porcupine Celebration is planned for Father’s Day weekend next year as well.