The sixth annual Native American Friendship Pow Wow at the College of DuPage attracted dancers, drummers and vendors from throughout the Midwest.
It also brought out spectators such as Mary Grach of Naperville who wanted good seats for her den of 5th-grade Cub Scouts from Ellsworth Elementary School.
"Everyone said to sit close to the drums," she said. "Boy Scouting has Indian folklore woven throughout it, and I thought it would be good for them to see authentic dancing."
Saturday's event, a friendship powwow, differs from a competitive event, in which dancers perform for prize money, explained Jim Frank, coordinator of the college's Native American Studies Program, which sponsored the powwow.
"It's a social gathering to keep the culture alive in songs and dance, and to renew friendships," Frank said. Among the Native Americans participating in the event, he said, several were from Chicago's Northwest Side.
The powwow featured two opening ceremonies at 1 and 6 p.m., complete with a parade, prayer, singing, drumming and dancing.
"The drummers honor the feminine, which is the heartbeat of Mother Earth," he said. "The women, as they dance, stand very erect and always keep one foot on the ground to show a connection to the earth."
Another important custom is to protect the eagle feathers that adorn the native costumes. Should one drop on the floor, the powwow stops while a tribal elder stands guard and decides if the dancer was careless in handling his or her costume. That dancer could be banished from the event.
About 2,000 people attended the all-day powwow, which included vendors selling Native American foods, such as fry bread, and all types of crafts and art. Proceeds from admission will go to the College of DuPage program, as well as the Native American Education Services College in Chicago.
Spectator Mike Willuweit of Glen Ellyn has attended both schools in hopes of becoming a lawyer and defending tribal treaty rights.
"Native American studies classes require active participation to understand the culture," he explained. "And the more you give, the more you get back."