Homecoming for Out-of-State At-Large Members Held

Trish Brown

9/21/2000 12:00:00 AM

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe hosted a homecoming for At-Large Tribal members living outside of Michigan in conjunction with an annual cultural event.

The homecoming for the 16th Annual Little Elk's Retreat Powwow scheduled for At-Large members was a success according to Amy Alberts, At-Large Program director.

Many members said that it was financially helpful that the At-Large Program coordinated the Homecoming for Little Elk's Retreat 2000 event for those that were not able to come home on their own. They said it was a time to be reunited with family and friends they otherwise would not have been able to see and also a time to make new friends.

Descendant Sarah LeBlanc and her friend Elizabeth Lown, who are 11 year olds from Louisiana, said that they came home to visit with LeBlanc's family — but most of all they came to "meet some Indian boys."

The At-Large Program specifically coordinated this event for Tribal members living outside the state of Michigan because they are often unable to attend other scheduled events. Over 200 people participated in the program.

Those that attended received financial help with travel expenses, were given hotel accommodations at the Soaring Eagle Resort and were given meal stipends. There were also planned meals and activities during the week of the powwow.

On Aug. 2, the At-Large members and their families started arriving at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. They began their visit back home by checking in at the At-Large table that was located on the fourth floor of the hotel and also began signing up for the events that were scheduled during the week. Each of the groups that attended received several items with the Tribal logo including a travel carry-on bag, Frisbee, planner, highlighters and post-it notes. Tribal member Raymond Peters and his wife Tommie from Brooksville, Fla. were the first to sign in and receive their welcome gifts. There were also other prizes given away at the homecoming cookout for the different events that took place during the week.

A variety of other activities followed during the week. On Aug. 3, Ron Jackson, Tribal Council treasurer/District III At-Large Tribal Council representative, welcomed everyone to the breakfast in the Firefly Buffet in the resort.

The program participants and their families toured the Indian School Cemetery, Baseline Indian Cemetery and the Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial School. They were also able to attend classes where they made dreamcatchers and Medicine Bags. The dreamcatchers class was hosted by Theresa Chingna and the Medicine Bag class was hosted by Emma Fisher. The night ended with a Murder Mystery Dinner at Lincoln Hall in Mt. Pleasant.

A euchre tournament was also scheduled to entertain the guests. The event took place in the Otto Room at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on Aug 4. The first place winner in the euchre tournament was Bill Holtzhausen. Tribal members Don Lown and Daniel Denman were tied for second place and the third place winner was Tribal member Mel Smith.

There was a coloring contest for children from birth to age five and another contest for children ages 6 to 10-years-old that took place at the At Large building. A cookout was also planned for the visitors.

According to Cathy Curtis, secretary for the At-Large Program, this year's homecoming included Tribal Elders that are 50-years-old or more, adult couples, and families of four with at least one child under the age of 18 and at least one person being a Tribal member.

The largest event the participants attended was the 16th Annual Little Elk's Retreat "Honoring the Eagle" Powwow. There were many participants that said that this was their first time attending a powwow and that they thought it was a great idea the homecoming was associated with the event.

According to Robert Talltree, his grandchildren, Alex, Ashley and Aleyah Bornschein, traveled all the way from Colorado Springs, Colo. to receive their traditional Indian names. Tribal member Naomi Fisher Pederson, the children's grandmother, was the matriarch who named the children in their family this year before the Sacred Fire at the powwow.

"When there is a new baby born, the family gathers for the naming ceremony," said Ruben Blackcloud, Talltree's brother.

The week concluded with a send-off dinner on Aug. 6 in the Soaring Eagle Ballroom for all those that came home. The drum, Spirit Bird, from Lac Courte Oreilles in Hayward, Wis. volunteered at the farewell dinner. Those that were in attendance joined in the blanket dance for the drum.