10 Years Straight
Sobriety Powwow to celebrate decade in Gallup

Shaundo Tippeconnie helps his son Talon, 8, get dressed during last year's NCI Sobriety Powwow at Gallup Junior High School. The annual event, sponsored by NCI and the Navajo Nation Special Diabetes Project, is a drug- and alcohol-free event for all ages. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent File Photo]

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Ten years ago the Na'Nizhoozhi Center sponsored Gallup's first New Year's Eve Sobriety Powwow in its cafeteria.

A decade later, the popular event has outgrown several locations and now attracts about 3,000 people to the annual event, which includes a gourd dance, powwow, and Diné shoe game.

This year's Annual NCI New Year's Eve Sobriety Gourd Dance and Powwow will be at Gallup Junior High School, 680 S. Boardman, and the Diné shoe game will be at the NCI cafeteria, 2405 Boyd Ave. Admission to the gourd dance or powwow is a non-perishable food item, a school supply item, or a new toy. Participants are asked not to bring their own chairs as bleacher seating is available. Admission to the shoe game is free.

This year's theme is "A Decade of Honoring Sobriety in Our Community."

According to event organizers, who met on Tuesday to finalize planning details, the gourd dance will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31. After a supper break, the powwow grand entry will be at 6 p.m., with a New Year's celebration at midnight. The Diné shoe game will begin at 7 p.m. at NCI and run until the game is completed.

Mike Salabiye, the master of ceremonies for the gourd dance, said NCI's New Year's Eve Gourd Dance and Powwow has grown into a major event that draws people from across the West, from the West Coast to Utah and Oklahoma. He encouraged people of all ethnic backgrounds to attend, not just Native Americans who regularly attend gourd dances or powwows.

"This event is open to the whole family," he added.

"It's a good time for families to come together to celebrate their bond and their togetherness," agreed Priscilla Morris, another event organizer. "We just want everybody to come out and have a good time ... no matter what color your skin is," added Morris.

Donald Tolino Sr., the master of ceremonies for the powwow, particularly encouraged people who have never attended a powwow to attend and even join the dancing. The powwow head staff will be available to answer questions from visitors, he said.

"Substance abuse has no boundary it touches one and all," Tolino said. "We fight our way back one day at a time. It's an uphill struggle." Substance abuse scars everyone in a family, particularly children, he added, but sobriety events like the gourd dance and powwow offer opportunities for healing.

People "self-medicate themselves" through alcohol abuse, said Salabiye, particularly veterans. Tolino and Salabiye noted that Native Americans enlist in the United States Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other ethnic group in the country and that the camaraderie among veterans at gourd dances is very strong.

Although the gourd dance originated as a warrior dance among tribes in Oklahoma, Tolino explained, many Navajo and Pueblo veterans like other Native American veterans across the country have adopted it as a veterans' dance.

"The essence of the songs have their own healing power," added Salabiye.

Tolino believes the celebration of the New Year's Eve Sobriety Gourd Dance and Powwow's tenth anniversary is a testament to the dedication NCI staff members have to the event and to the people they serve.

Dr. Kevin Foley, a psychologist at NCI and another organizer, said due to economic downturns, some financial support from the local business community wasn't available this year. Foley hopes the city of Gallup will continue to offer support for the event and view it as a major city-wide alcohol prevention event.

Mayor Bob Rosebrough has been particularly supportive, added Salabiye. "We hope the new mayor will continue this," he said.

One previous component of the powwow will be missing this year the Miss NCI Powwow Princess. After several years of crowning a princess during the New Year's Eve Sobriety Powwow, event organizers discontinued the practice last year when only one girl entered the competition. The girl and her mother complained to a local newspaper after judges for the event declined to offer her the title.

"We're just saying it's out for now," said Foley of the princess competition. "If it comes back, it comes back."

This year's gourd dance and powwow head staff includes Tolino as powwow master of ceremonies, Salabiye as gourd dance master of ceremonies, Victor Bob as arena director, Zuni Southern as the host southern drum, Native Boys at the host northern drum, Shorty Lewis as the head gourd dancer, Butch Bluehawk as the head man dancer, Eldon Owens as the head boy dancer, Kelly Ross as the head lady dancer, Tianna Benally as the head girl dancer, and the Zuni Vietnam Veterans serving as the event's Color Guard.

For further information, contact NCI at (505) 722-2177 ext. 122. Arts and crafts and food vendors should contact Priscilla Morris at (505) 722-2177 ext. 109 for information about reserving booth space.