Native Americans connect to culture at isle gathering

Mealii Prieto knew nothing about her Native American roots until her father, a C-130 flight navigator, was based at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas, in 1960.

“My maternal grandfather was a full-blooded member of the Otoe Missouria nation of Red Rock, Okla.,” Prieto said. “Grandpa left the reservation when he was 17 years old, joined the Merchant Marine and hopped on a ship to Honolulu where he met my grandmother and married her in the early 1920s. He died as a young man and never made it back to Oklahoma.”

Prieto’s mother was born and raised in Honolulu and didn’t meet her Oklahoma relatives until her husband’s transfer took the family to neighboring Texas. They spent two summers in Red Rock, a day-and-a-half drive away, as guests of their Native American relatives.

“They embraced us and were happy to teach Mom the traditional ways, all of which were new to her,” Prieto said. “My three brothers, three sisters and I watched her learn how to dance, sew regalia and make bread.”

When Prieto’s dad retired in 1967, the family settled in Honolulu, but her mother returned to Red Rock when she could to visit her aunts, uncles and cousins; attend powwows; and continue learning. She always came home with new stories and treasures — regalia, shawls, jewelry and more — that she made or were given to her as gifts.

“Maintaining close familial and cultural ties was very important to her, and she thought it would be good to reach out to others with similar backgrounds,” Prieto said. “She was one of the women who helped build the Native American community on Oahu more than 40 years ago. When her health started to decline, we kids decided that traditions should be a priority in our lives too.”

Today, Prieto is president of the Oahu Intertribal Council (see sidebar) and one of the organizers of the Honolulu Intertribal Powwow, which marks its 42nd anniversary this year. “‘Intertribal’ powwow means all tribes are welcome to participate,” she said. “Native Americans have been in Hawaii since whaling ships from New England first arrived here in 1819. Others came as paniolo (cowboys) and as immigrants from Puerto Rico. Many were military personnel who were stationed on Oahu during and after the world wars and the Korean and Vietnam wars. They married local people and settled here. That’s how the majority of kamaaina trace their Native American lineage.”

At the powwow, different tribes will display their distinctive styles of dancing, drumming, singing and colorful, elaborate regalia. Adornments and accessories might include fans made of hawk and eagle feathers; brightly patterned armbands and headbands; headdresses trimmed with feathers, ribbons and dyed horsehair; and beaded belts, hair ties, moccasins and leggings.

Always entertaining for spectators to watch is the jingle dance, which originated with the Ojibwe nation from Canada and the Great Lakes region of the United States. The regalia for this healing dance are covered with jingles — seven rows of them, representing the days in a week, and 366 in all, symbolizing the days in a year and one extra for good luck.

“The jingles are usually made from snuff can lids that are molded into a cone shape and attached with fabric or ribbons in a pattern designed by the dancers,” Prieto said. “As they move, the jingles tinkle, which supposedly scares away evil spirits.”

Powwow attendees can also try traditional foods such as fry bread, a flatbread that can be eaten plain, sweetened with honey or jam, or made into “Indian tacos” with ground beef, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and salsa. Educational booths will exhibit pottery, woven baskets and buffalo hides. Among the handmade arts and crafts for sale will be dolls, blankets, and silver and turquoise jewelry. Ron Pinkham, a Nez Perce elder and medicine man from San Jose, Calif., will be on hand to share his wisdom.

“As I help plan the powwow, I’m reminded of the emphasis my mother placed on education, cultural identity and family and community bonds,” Prieto said. “I’ve also come to cherish those values, and the … ceremonies of the powwow have become more meaningful to me.”

She looks forward to dancing in the powwow circle, which can bring renewal, comfort and spiritual healing. “My siblings and I wear my mother’s shawls and beaded jewelry so that her spirit can dance with us,” Prieto said. “It is a powerful experience — to dance with prayer, joy and gratitude to the rhythm of the drums, the heartbeat of our culture.”

About the powwow

In the early 1970s, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin published an announcement about a meeting intended to connect people of Native American ancestry.

Inspired by that meeting, several women began organizing monthly picnics at beaches and parks around Oahu to welcome Native American soldiers stationed in Hawaii.

Over the years, the number of participants grew. Impromptu performances led to the development of an annual event; the inaugural Honolulu Intertribal Powwow was held at Thomas Square in 1974.

Since 2013, the event has been organized by the nonprofit Oahu Intertribal Council. The group welcomes new members; call 392-4479 or email honolulupowwow@gmail.com for more information.

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.