Head Lady Dancer
Introducing this year's Head Lady Dancer, Ella Victoria Bearsheart! Proud member of the Standing Rock Lakota & Santee Dakota Nations. Mahalo Ella for being with us this year and participating as the 47th Annual Honolulu Intertribal Powwow's Head Lady Dancer!
"Now living on O'ahu, Ella was named after her grandmother Ella Marie Campbell/Bearsheart, a member of the Santee Dakota Nation, but an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Lakota Nation on her father's side and German from her mother's side. She started dancing on the powwow trail later in her life competing in the Jingle and Fancy Shawl categories. She watched other performers, like Tony and Violet Duncan, Hoop Dancing, plus her brother Nathaniel, inspired her to learn how to Hoop Dance. She also placed 12th in her first World Hoop Dance Championships several years ago."
Head Man Dancer
Introducing this year's Head Man Dancer, Nathaniel Lakota Bearsheart! Nathaniel is a proud member of the Standing Rock Lakota & Santee Dakota Nations and we say Welcome for participating with us at the 47th Annual Honolulu Intertribal Powwow!
"Now living on the island of O'ahu with his parents Brad and Gaby Bearsheart and sister Ella, he remembers dancing in his early years on the powwow trail with his family. He competed in the Grass dance and traditional categories and later met his mentor Tony Duncan at a performance in Arizona. He eventually competed in the World Hoop Championships and placed 3rd in the teen division. Nathaniel states his love for dancing will be in my life forever, as it makes me strong in heart and mind. I pray you all enjoy yourselves and come on out to the powwow and dance everyone!"
Emcee~Host
This year's Emcee/Host is Brad Bearsheart, father of our Headman & Head Lady dancers this year! Mahalo Brad for all you and your family, including your wife Gaby has done for the Oahu Intertribal Council for many years, your talents and contributions are very much appreciated!
Brad started dancing at a young age, but when his father passed in 1976, he gave it up until his children started to show an interest at an early age.
His wife Gabriele was also a reason for the family to return to the circle, having a heart for the native people. For over nine years his family helped support Native elders by providing clothes, blankets, food and toys for the kids at Christmas. They have enjoyed traveling across the US and Canada, dancing for the people and now make Hawaii their home. Welcome Brad Welcome!
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Arena Director
Welcome O'ahu Intertribal Council's own Irenio Y. Villaren III as our Arena Director for the 47th Annual Honolulu Intertribal Powwow this year! Known to family and friends as "Reno", he is a proud descendent of Lummi, Shoshone and Filipino ancestors on his paternal line and Native Hawaiian on his maternal line. Reno is not new to the powwow circles having learned at a young age to dance, drum and sing from his elders and mentors. Treating others with kindness, an understanding heart and a willingness to side with tradition but knowing every situation deserves consideration 'to be'. Let's enjoy ourselves at the powwow with a playful, fun, loving and respectful heart. Aloha & Aho!
Host & Guest Drum
Host drums are responsible for singing the songs at the beginning and end of a pow-wow session, generally a starting song, the grand entry song, a flag song, and veterans or victory song to start the pow-wow, and a flag song, retreat song, and closing song to end the pow wow. Additionally, if a pow-wow has gourd dancing, the Southern Host Drum is often the drum that sings all the gourd songs, though another drum can perform them. The host drums are often called upon to sing special songs during the pow-wow.
Guest Drum
Wildhorse Drum
The Wildhorse Singers were formed in 1989 and are a Northern style drum group based out of LA, California. Drum members come from various tribes across the state and have participated with the Honolulu Intertribal Powwow for over 25+ years and are long-time supporters of our Hawaiian community. As a group they work very close with their community and dedicate much of their time to working with the Native youth population. They focus on connecting the youth to their culture through singing and dancing. The goal is to support the youth in striving to lead successful lives through a commitment to the preservation of Indian ways and traditions, the pursuit of education, and most importantly maintenance of Sobriety. They do this by promoting and living an alcohol and drug-free way of life, deeply rooted in traditional values. Aloha & Aho!--