Hebolb Pow Wow
By Jennie Willingham

A village with a population estimated at 1,200 once thrived here in Everett. Once one of the large trade centers of the Pacific Northwest, the village known as Hebolb was located just below the current Legion Park, between the Scott Paper and Weyerhauser factories. Descendants of the people of Hebolb now live in various reservations, including Tulalip. Once a year, various tribes gather together to celebrate in Everett: The Hebolb Pow Wow is a celebration of tradition, culture, and diversity.

The Everett Community College Fitness and Sports Center was alive in color, resonating drums, and a warm sense of community on Saturday, May 14 as tribes gathered for the 15th annual Hebolb Pow Wow. Hosted by the United Native American Council (UNAC) of Everett Community College, the event included traditional music, dancing, and appreciation of native culture, open to anyone who wanted to attend.

The main focus of the Pow Wow was dancing, with several competitions in various genres. The bleachers were full of people, some obvious participants or family members, others just enjoying the event. The dancer’s regalia were bright and colorful; some dancers went for the more traditional colors of subdued beige and deep reds, others used bright, often neon colors and more striking contrasts. But all seemed committed to keeping the basic form of dress.

Amongst the music of the drumming circles, where participants kept rhythm and chanted for the dancers, was the sound of the jingling bells sewed on to several dancer’s regalia.

The dances included a War Dance, usually performed when a warrior would return to his village. The dance was done in a line for cleansing before entering the village, each man telling their personal story of the battle with their movements. The dance performed today, however, does not exclude women.

Another dance is the Inter-tribal, a free-style dance. Most dancers were relaxed while dancing; talking or carrying children, they circled the dance arena counter-clockwise.

The Jingle Dress Dance, which originated among the Plains Indians, represents and expresses change and acknowledgement of spiritual wealth. The dress is stitched with 365 metal cones, one for each day of the year. The Owl, or Push, dance is considered a Native version of the waltz; a slower dance done in couples. The Sneak-up, or Scout, dance tells the story of scouts on the warpath or on hunting trips. During this dance, men in elaborate regalia crouched and made themselves to look as though they were alert to some deer or an enemy lurking behind a tree.

A dance of the women of the golden age was announced and the elder women stood and began a slow dance around the circle. The women moved with grace and elegance while dancing.

Among the participants were several children and teenagers. There were also several pre-teens, all of which had slightly embarrassed expressions but a stronger appearance of pride.

Merchants had booths at the event selling paintings, jewelry, and several other handmade products. Booths outside offered fried bread and “Indian tacos,” fried bread with taco fixings.

The atmosphere of the event was one of pride and close connections. Every child was looked after, every elder was respected. Every person who came into the building was immediately a member of a larger family. The Pow Wow was more than just a celebration of the Native traditions of dancing and drumming, it was a celebration of the Native tradition of respect.

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