Even though we may be miles apart, we are closer than ever. With the touch of our fingertips, people from around the world have access to interact and lately have been doing so even more. With the newest pandemic, COVID-19, stay-at-home orders and social distancing have been recommended from our cities, states, and countries to take action.
However, this has not stopped Indigenous peoples from Turtle Island from coming together. With the wonders of the 21st century, technology and social media, we have been doing that and more.
Indian country is filled with the love of tradition, customs, art, song, and dance. These things and much more are being showcased on the world wide web through the new Facebook group the Social Distance Powwow. This group was established on March 17, 2020 and is currently overflowing with more than 140,000 members and counting. Vogue says “…this healing act is more important than ever…” this group is celebrating and spreading positivity. The people are not falling into a path of sadness or worry but the opposite, being strong and resilient through these distant times.
This group is intended as an online powwow for dancers to share their footwork, artists to show their skills, singers to bust out their best leads and most of all healing for the people. The interactive Social Distance Powwow has accomplished much in less than a month — dancing and singing specials being sponsored to t-shirts being made in commemoration of this joyous unity.
Navajo Times mentioned “its growth has been exponential, in a good way!” and the group mentions that this is a space for all to showcase themselves and their talents gifted to each other. May this be an inspiration to keep our heads high and stay Indigenous strong for this distance physically keeping us apart from each other; it will never keep our spirits apart.
