It was first held in 1972 to honor the victory of tribal members who protested a dam which damaged waterways, burial grounds, and wild rice beds. This dam was built despite opposition from the LCO tribe – a story we are all too familiar with. When the license for the dam was up for renewal in 1971, several Ojibwe organized a powwow in protest. When that didn’t make enough noise to voice the concerns of the LCO tribe, the LCO Council and members of the American Indian Movement chose to occupy the dam and would not leave until the power company agreed to negotiate.
The annual powwow continues to be a way to celebrate what the Earth provides for the Anishinabe people and a way to remember the small group of people who stood up for their rights. It is now one of the largest regional powwows in the country.
The work we do at Native Vote is intended to build on this important history of Indigenous people. We will stand up for our rights, we will honor our ancestors, and we will vote. |
