While many locals kicked back and enjoyed their extended weekends fishing on the lake or grilling in their backyards, members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi had their hands full entertaining guests.

Hundreds of guests, to be more precise.

On Saturday and Sunday, the tribe hosted its 32nd annual Kee-Boon-Mein-Kaa Pow Wow at its arena outside Rodgers Lake in Dowagiac. More than 300 Native American dancers and drummers from throughout the United States and Canada participated in the Labor Day tradition, while hundreds more from around the area packed the pow wow arena to witness the festivities.

Those who have never attended one of the Pokagon Band’s pow wows are really missing out. There is nothing quite like it, especially in Dowagiac.

From the powerful drumming and music to the colorful regalia worn by the dancers, you know immediately you are witnessing something special as soon as the dances begin. The pow wow is something our news team is always excited to cover — and, judging by the reactions our photos and stories get, it is something readers are excited about as well.

Representatives with the Pokagon Band have described the pow wow as a cultural exchange between members of the tribe and their neighbors, and we cannot think of a better way to describe it. It’s the perfect way for non-Native Americans to learn more about the culture and heritage of the region’s oldest residents, while enjoying a great afternoon of fun and excitement.

The Kee-Boon-Mein-Kaa pow wow is so much more than a simple festival for the Pokagon people, though.

As Marcus Winchester, one of the pow wow’s organizers and a historian with the Pokagon Band, put it, “As our tribe grows, so does the pow wow. It’s a good indicator of how healthy our community is.”

For a community that, less than 25 years ago, was not even recognized as a sovereign tribe by the federal government, the growth the Pokagon Band has experienced as been tremendous. In the past 10 years, the tribe has not only experienced tremendous success with its chain of Four Winds casinos, but has made tremendous investments in housing and healthcare for its citizens — as well as contributed thousands to projects benefiting the tribe’s neighbors.

Just as Winchester said, the pow wow is a reflection of the Pokagon Band’s growth as well as the hospitality it shares with others.

We hope to see the event — and the tribe’s fortunes — continue to surge in the years to come.

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of General Manager Ambrosia Neldon and editors Scott Novak and Ted Yoakum.