Annual Niimi'idiwin (Powwow) returns August 17th

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Sanford Bemidji, Red Lake Indian Health Service Hospital and Cass Lake Indian Health Service Hospital are hosting the 18th Annual Niimi’idiwin (Powwow) from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on August 17, 2023, at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, 1300 Anne St. N.W., Bemidji. The celebration will be held in the field west of the hospital.

Intended to celebrate holistic healing and our community’s Ojibwe heritage, this gathering is free and open to all within the community and neighboring towns who would like to show respect and celebrate the healing power of heritage.

Dancer registration begins at 11 a.m. The event starts at 12 p.m. which includes a pipe ceremony and grand entry of dancers led by local tribal and Bemidji honor guard members. The powwow will be held with the following specials; men's grass dance, women’s jingle dance, men's and women's traditional dance, a potato dance and spot dances throughout. There will also be a set time to recognize all health care workers – holistic and traditional. The powwow will have Darryl Kingbird as the emcee and Gary Charwood sharing the duel role of arena director and spiritual advisor. Invited drum groups will also be participating including Ojibwe Nation, Smokey Hill and Young Kingbird.

A feast of Red Lake walleye and traditional fixings will be served starting at 4:30 p.m. A variety of booths will also be present to share local art, crafts, and health resources during this communal celebration of health and heritage. Only pre-invited color guards, honor guards and vendors/booths will be permitted to perform/setup during the event. Dancers will be awarded at approximately 5:45 p.m.

About Sanford Health

Sanford Health is one of the largest health care systems in the nation, with 44 hospitals and nearly 300 clinics in nine states and four countries. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and serving the Upper Midwest, with nearly 1,400 physicians, Sanford Health is dedicated to several initiatives, including global clinics, genomic medicine and specialized centers researching cures for type 1 diabetes, breast cancer and other diseases. Sanford Health has 28,000 employees, making it the largest employer in the Dakotas. Nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford over the past decade have transformed how Sanford Health can improve the human condition. For information, visit sanfordhealth.org.