Sometimes it gets hard to balance these two worlds.
There's different responsibilities
that I hold at school.
There's different responsibilities
that I hold for the Powwow Trail.
I'm a junior at UW-Madison.
I come from the Band River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe.
[drum beat with electronica]
[yells]
>> All right, don't go away gentlemen.
>> A powwow is a social gathering.
This is like our way
of bringing our whole native community together.
>> Okay, I believe we are ready for our first -- entry.
So we are going to ask those of you that are able
to please rise, remove the covers off your head
to pay respects not only just to our stars and stripes
but to the original flag of this continent, our Eagle Staffs.
>> The veterans play a huge role
because they went to battle for us.
They went to battle for our people
and they always have.
Powwows are used as a means to educate people.
That's why they're so open to the public and everything.
A lot of people classify Native Americans as
you know, oh, they're all Indians.
Well, no, you know.
We're all from different nations
that are all really, really different.
We all have different languages.
We all have different ways of life.
And we're completely different.
Just from being on the Powwow Trail
you get to learn so much about different native nations.
When I was just a little guy I'd watch those
men's traditional dancers and
they always had a big
impression on me.
I always saw them
almost like the protectors of the powwow.
[native singing]
It's almost like I'm
hunting, especially when you do the sneak up.
You're out there looking for you prey
or for your Waawaashkeshi, we call it.
That's our word for deer.
I started singing with Midnight Express a few years ago.
Those people on that drum are my family.
Sometimes, like when it's not a contest song
I'll get to look out there and see all those
feathers out there moving and bobbing with the beat.
People just jamming out and that's a great feeling.
[native singing electronica]
When you're dancing
you're dancing for the ones that can't dance anymore.
That's what they say.
You dance hard so the ones that are watching that can't dance
or the ones that aren't able to make it to the powwow
can feel those feelings from here.
I really try to encourage younger
I call them little brothers on the powwow trail.
That's another reason I dance and sing
is to help motivate these young ones
to carry on our traditions.
I really feel that I was put here on this earth
to help pass things on.
I want to see these traditions, these ways, passed down
'til I'm gone, and on.