WHITE SHIELD – Walter Echo-Hawk, president of the Pawnee Nation in Oklahoma, will be a special guest at the 60th annual Arikara Celebration beginning today and continuing through Sunday in White Shield.

Echo-Hawk is a well-known Native American attorney, tribal judge, author, activist and law professor.

The annual powwow has grand entries (opening ceremonies) scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Due to COVID-19 concerns the 2021 Arikara Celebration Committee decided on a modified schedule instead of the normal three-day schedule for the celebration. Rapid COVID testing is required for all vendors attending and COVID vaccinations also will be available.

Host drums for the celebration are Dead Grass, Yellow Face and Ree Scouts. Announcers are Charlie Moran, Lawrence Baker and Jerry Dearly Sr. Young Hawk Bear Post 253 of White Shield is the color guard. All posts are welcome.

There will be no powwow on Sunday but a breakfast hosted by the Jesse White family at 9 a.m. and an all-denominational church services at 11:30 a.m. at the powwow arena are planned.

Numerous special events and other events are planned during the celebration.

The Dead Grass Society sponsored the first celebration at White Shield in 1961, according to Austin Gillette of White Shield. He said previous celebrations were held at Nishu probably in the 1860s and forward. Chief Robert Bear was the first president. The current committee members are descendants of the Dead Grass Society members and carrying on the tradition and recognizing the new head Chief Richard White Bear.