We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
15
SATURDAY
A bunch of guys sitting around talking office productivity does not constitute a “powwow.” Telecommunications conventions, ad-agency skull sessions, and parent-child heart-to-hearts don’t make the cut, either. And certainly nothing that takes place around some second-rate summer camp’s bonfire can claim to bear any resemblance to the rich Native American cultural gathering. The term is liberally applied to all manner of get-togethers, but the Battle River Singers quickly set the record straight. The world-champion northern-style powwow singers of Minnesota’s Chippewa Red Lake Band are renowned for their mix of traditional and contemporary styles, and their breathtaking presentation of a Round Dance goes a long way toward teaching the masses what a real powwow is all about. The key difference will be immediately apparent: Unlike your weekly staff meeting, a true powwow restores energy rather than saps it. The performance starts at 2 p.m. at the National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW. Free. Call 1-866-400-6624 for advance timed passes. (Sarah Godfrey)