ESCANABA — The public is invited to gather this Saturday for the Caring For Our Elders Powwow funded by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

The event will take place April 18 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Escanaba Junior/Senior High School.

Doors will open at 10 a.m., grant entries will take place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a feast will begin at 4:30 p.m. The event will feature various vendors with food, jewelry, clothing and crafting items, as well as music and dances.

In attendance will be Jamie Brotherton as the head male dancer; Tiara Drift of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, head female dancer; Jeremy Burnside, head veteran; Ice Circle, head drum; Crazy Boy, co-host; Glen Bressette Jr. of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, arena director; and TJ Derwin of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, master of ceremonies.

“We like to make it a community event, so that way, even non-native people will come,” said Jennifer Raspor, organizer of the event. “We want everybody to come, because being where we live in the Upper Peninsula, we’re surrounded by native and non-native people all over.”

Jennifer and Chuck Raspor have organized the event since around 2018. The couple approached organizer Loren Woerpol, who owned Noc Bay Trading Company in Escanaba, and asked to rename what was known as the Midwinter Powwow to Caring For Our Elders.

“That midwinter powwow was a really special powwow to a lot of people,” Jennifer said. “Even though I know we’re not having it in winter per se, it’s an important part of us and our community, I feel.”

The event was held annually until COVID-19 in 2020. This year, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indian’s Culture Department asked the Raspors to organize the powwow again with their help.

According to Jennifer, people will be traveling into town for the powwow from Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin and downstate Michigan.

“We just try to put it on and have people come, ask questions and learn, because a lot of people are afraid to go to a powwow because they don’t think they belong,” Jennifer said. “Well, actually, anybody can come.”

The event will also include healing dances and prayers, Jennifer noted.

“It’s positive energy,” Jennifer said. “We’re dancing for the people, we’re dancing for Earth. You can always walk up to one of [the dancers], give them some tobacco and ask for a prayer. They’ll pray for your family while they’re dancing.”

Sponsors of the event as of this publication include the Daily Press, Hannahville Indian Community, Noc Bay Trading Company, Escanaba Junior/Senior high School and Sunbelt Rentals, formerly known as Bosk Rentals.

In addition, Frapps Meat Market donated meat for the event, and Comfort Suites in Escanaba donated rooms at a discounted rate to vendors and travelers for the weekend.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.