Powwow Emphasizes Family and Sobriety

September 5, 1999

Source: The Denver Rocky Mountain News

On September 5, 1999, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reported that the 34th annual powwow of the White Buffalo Council, Denver's oldest Native American organization, took place on September 4th and 5th at the Tall Bull Memorial Grounds in Douglas County, Colorado. The powwow, with signs posted stating: "No Drugs or Alcohol Allowed on Grounds," aimed to be a family event. Cheryl LaPointe, a federal public health official and a Rosebud Sioux descendant, stated: 'The stereotype of drunken Indians is changing with sobriety, where alcohol and drugs are not part of the culture...Instead, it's a culture of enrichment and a culture of pride." Tasha Gallegos, a Comanche descendant, stated: "We get together to dance, see friends, be with relatives and just feel good."