Once the ceremonial drum was set up in the center of the sacred circle, the program began with a number of gourd dances. According to the official program, only gourd dancers can dance during the gourd dance. The dancing itself is very simple, with the…Read More

Once the ceremonial drum was set up in the center of the sacred circle, the program began with a number of gourd dances.

According to the official program, only gourd dancers can dance during the gourd dance. The dancing itself is very simple, with the men standing in place and lifting their heels to the beat of the drum while they shake their rattles or gourds. The dances were begun by the Head Gourd Dancer, in this case a Charles Chibitty.

As you can see from the photos, the dress for the gourd dance was not elaborate. Some of it was traditional and some modern-day, every-day clothing.Close

Our trip to the casino was not originally on our agenda, but became a fun part of our day because of the extreme heat. Our desination in Topeka was Shawnee Lake where a Native American Pow Wow was being held. We arrived in…Read More

Our trip to the casino was not originally on our agenda, but became a fun part of our day because of the extreme heat. Our desination in Topeka was Shawnee Lake where a Native American Pow Wow was being held. We arrived in Topeka sometime around 12 p.m. and found the Pow Wow location beside Shawnee Lake. Dancing was scheduled for the afternoon, but because of the extreme temperatures (in excess of 105 degrees), was postponed until 5:00.

With some time on our hands we decided to drive to the casino and have lunch and do a little gambling.

Harrah's Prairie Band Casino is located on Reservation Land and is owned by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. It's a well run operation and very busy.

What my husband and I do really can't be considered gambling. We're such high rollers that we allow ourselves $20 and sit about to play the nickle slots. Unlike a lot of people who go to a casino to win money, we go for entertainment. It's fun watching the machines and listening to the sounds, and watching people. As soon as one of us finishes off the pile of coins we start off with, we leave -- happy to have had a few hours entertainment and happy not to be really broke. Close

There were numerous colorful costumes in evidence and the number grew as the evening wore on. The men as well as the women donned their regalia and joined the dancing. A local television news reporter and photographer from channel 49 were there to document…Read More

There were numerous colorful costumes in evidence and the number grew as the evening wore on. The men as well as the women donned their regalia and joined the dancing. A local television news reporter and photographer from channel 49 were there to document the event. They conducted interviews with some of the more colorfully dressed individuals.

During the gourd dancing, women danced behind their men and stayed in groups together.Close

If you're headed for Topeka, Kansas, I can't say enough about avoiding Forbes Field, the commercial airport for Topeka. You don't have to worry about a crowded airport or lines at the ticket counter. US Airways Express is the only commercial air carrier that services Forbes…Read More

If you're headed for Topeka, Kansas, I can't say enough about avoiding Forbes Field, the commercial airport for Topeka.

You don't have to worry about a crowded airport or lines at the ticket counter. US Airways Express is the only commercial air carrier that services Forbes Field and there are only four departures and four arrivals daily (Saturday it's only one of each) to/from Kansas City, Missouri.

If you're not a fan of commuter airplanes, this will give you more reason to stay away from Forbes Field. US Airways Express flies the Beechcraft 1900 on the route between Topeka and Kansas City. It's a 19-seat plane that is a tight fit getting into. The flight is just a short 15 to 20 minutes from Kansas City.

From my experience with Yellow Cab (785-357-4444), I can say without hesitation that you want to avoid them. I called the night before and asked for a cab to pick me up at 6:45AM for a 7:45AM flight out of Forbes Field. After three calls to them, they finally picked me up at the hotel at 7:20AM. I got to the airport at 7:39AM and luckily just made it under the wire to get on my flight. It also took them 40 minutes from the time I called to get a cab out to Forbes Field to pick me up and take me to my hotel.

The only other choices to call is Capitol City Taxi (785-267-3777) and Jayhawk-Checker Cab (785-234-8294). Both Yellow Cab and Capitol City Taxi can be called from a kiosk in the center of the terminal.

You can get a rental car at Forbes, but it's off-site. Although Hertz does have a counter at the airport when I was there, Hertz sent a car out to pick up anyone renting from them.

My suggestion is that if you need to go to Topeka, avoid Forbes Field and rental a car from Kansas City. With the trouble of getting a cab and long layovers in Kansas City when you fly from Topeka, you'll end up saving time and trouble for yourself. Close

When the Gourd Dancing was brought to a close, a short break was given to prepare for the Grand Entrance Ceremony. We watched as participants scurried around gathering flags and putting the finishing touches on their costumes. The Grand Entrance Ceremony was indeed grand.…Read More

When the Gourd Dancing was brought to a close, a short break was given to prepare for the Grand Entrance Ceremony. We watched as participants scurried around gathering flags and putting the finishing touches on their costumes.

The Grand Entrance Ceremony was indeed grand. There were probably upwards of 100 participants in the ceremony, children and adults alike. Again, as we'd seen in the Gourd Dancing, costumes varied -- some quite elaborately Native American, some a mixture of traditional and modern day, and some simply modern, every day dress. The ceremony consisted of a march/dance around the sacred circle led by flag bearers and a prayer. It was quite impressive.

My husband and I were both fascinated by one older gentleman and looked him up at his tent during a break in the festivities. This man was Charles Chibitty, the Head Gourd Dancer. He was full of conversation, and quite happy to visit…Read More

My husband and I were both fascinated by one older gentleman and looked him up at his tent during a break in the festivities. This man was Charles Chibitty, the Head Gourd Dancer. He was full of conversation, and quite happy to visit with us until his name was called over the P.A. system.

Mr. Chibitty is a Comanche born in Oklahoma in 1921. He was an active participant in WWII and had many medals to wear on his sash.

The gourd dancing lasted about an hour and included some ceremonial proceedings. Some of the events were a little difficult to follow as this was the first Pow Wow I've attended, but I believe that one of the ceremonies was to welcome a new…Read More

The gourd dancing lasted about an hour and included some ceremonial proceedings. Some of the events were a little difficult to follow as this was the first Pow Wow I've attended, but I believe that one of the ceremonies was to welcome a new member into the Gourd Society. The new member was dressed in black and wore a black cowboy hat.

It seems that one of the traditions Native Americans still practice is one of honoring certain people. After the new member was given a rattle by Charles Chibitty, the group began a walk/dance around the circle. Others from the tribes then passed in front of the first line of people, which included the new member, shook hands with them and then added themselves to the back of the group. When the procedure was finished, there was quite a large number walking/dancing around the circle. It is my understanding that those joining the procession give a small gift to the honoree when shaking his hand.