May 1, 2012 — The Susanville Indian Rancheria will be honoring the sacrifices made by the Native American elders and veterans at its third annual Memorial Pow Wow.

The event is scheduled for Friday, May 18 through Sunday, May 20 at the Lassen County Fairgrounds. Approximately 11 local World War II and Korean War veterans will be honored during a ceremony held May 19.

The community is invited to attend to watch the events. Admission is free.

There will be food, arts, crafts and Native dancing contests — jingle, grass, and shawl — a hand drum contest and music.

Dave Comer, of the Susanville Indian Rancheria Corporation who is helping coordinate the event, said, “A pow wow is a celebration and a gathering to keep the Natives in tune with their heritage because that’s really important for the younger people.”

The pow wows, Comer said, are also places for the older people to see old friends. The event brings in people from California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Arizona, and Comer said even people from the east attend.

Some people spend summers on the pow wow trail attending events all over the country, according to Comer.

The Memorial Pow Wow will begin with a princess contest, open to anyone with tribal affiliation.

It will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 18 and the deadline to apply is Friday, May 4. Call Amelia Luna at 260-0038 or email gmaehart@hotmail.com for more information.

The junior princess contest is for girls between the ages of 5 to 11 and the princess contest is open to girls who are between 12 and 17 years of age.

Contestants must be able to discuss traditional knowledge and family line, public speaking skills, goals and plans for the future and demonstrate their cultural, modern or contemporary talent.

There will be a grand entry each day where Comer said a color guard will present the American flag, native staff, the state flag and the military flags.

Comer said elected royalty, the male elders and male dancers, the women elders and women dancers, then the teenage boys and girls, the young boys and girls and then the tiny tots will follow the color guard.

Sage Point, of Idaho, will serve as the host drum, Gary Watson will be the emcee and Little Bear Watson will serve as the arena director. DJ Edwards, of Chico, will be the Head Man and Juanice Nonco, who lives in Susanville, is the Head Woman.

For more information go to sir-powwow.com or email abrazzanovich@frontiernet.net