American Indian Powwow

Well if the above picture looks like it was take on an Indian reservation, that is because it was. 

On Friday my family was up at the hospital, and went down to the cafeteria for a quick bite to eat. When they returned to the room, my dad's door was opened just enough for them to see a man standing next to the bed with a Long, black braid.

He was the son of a great family friend. His name is Allen King. His father worked with my dad for years and years, and were great friends. Allen's father, Bobby, passed away 6 years ago and my dad escorted the body  back to Arizona from Idaho.

Allen Lives in Phoenix, Arizona. He came up to Idaho for the American Indian Dance festival at Fort Hall in Blackfoot. He decided to come up to Idaho Falls to see some of the people he worked with when he was younger and working with his dad. When he was at my dad's office and found out he was in the hospital, he immediately headed for the hospital.

When my family walked back into my fathers room, they saw Allen doing a ritual on my dad. There was such a calm feeling in the room while he was there. He then told my family that He would be dancing in the festival on Saturday and Sunday and that he would be dedicating his dances to my dad.

While we were at the festival on Saturday, we met up with Allen. We noticed that his face paint was different then the picture he showed us of his usual costume. He did special face paint for my dad. In the picture below there are 3 scares shown. These are to represent the scares that my dad, as well as the scares my family will carry from this whole experience.

 In the picture below, there are 3 arrowheads shown. The arrowheads represent protection for my dad.

 After Allen danced, he told us the meaning of what he was doing. While he was at the hospital on Friday, he took a breath from my dad, and carried it with him for his dance. Then while he was dancing, he took that breath and put it onto his feathers and lifted it to the sky. This was to have the dancing and chants carry it away.

This was such a spiritual experience. I don't know a whole lot about american Indian history, but I learned a lot this weekend. I am so grateful for Allen and all the has done for my family.