Organizer says Indian tribal gathering has become a casualty of dwindling funds

Dow James Park showcased rare gems, mountain men decked out in traditional clothing, and authentic Western wares over the weekend at the 15th annual Festival of the Old West, but one traditional component of the festival was missing.

The American Indian powwow, which has been a part of the festival since it began 15 years ago, was canceled this year because of lack of funding, according to festival organizer and powwow chairwoman Donna Chavez. She said funding from entities like the Tooele County Chamber of Commerce and the county itself has decreased over the years, and though she was able make up the shortfall with private donations in the past, that has not been the case this year.

“Every year, I’ve been able to raise money to have the event,” she said, adding that most of the money she received in her 14 years of being involved in the festival came from patrons outside Tooele County.

Chavez said it takes $10,000 to put on the powwow, including $2,000 for advertising the festival. Roughly $6,000 is used for prize money for the contestants in various dancing competitions, with about $4,000 used to pay for other participants in the powwow, including the spiritual leader and scorekeepers.

She said that budget hasn’t changed since the festival began.

“We were the only powwow in the state of Utah, or anywhere, that had payouts that low, and I never raised payouts for Indians to dance,” she said. “We tried, but we could never generate more.”

Chavez received $500 from the chamber plus several thousand more dollars from other organizations and businesses, but the money was returned when the powwow was canceled, she said. The $2,000 Chavez received from the county, which was earmarked for advertising, was used to advertise the festival in general.

She said she approached Tooele City requesting $4,000 — the remainder of the money needed to put on the powwow — but the city would only pledge $1,500.

“There’s nothing I can do if I don’t get support from the community and businesses,” Chavez said. “I’m at a standstill.”

She said while other powwows charge admission, the Festival of the Old West has always been free.

Chavez isn’t planning on organizing the powwow or being involved with the festival next year. She said her work has been voluntary and she’s never been paid.

“I’m tired of stressing and trying to raise money,” she said. “It’s not that I wanted to cancel it, I just could not raise the money. Every penny I ever got went to the powwow. I was lucky to have $100 [carryover] in the bank for the next year.”

Chavez feels Tooele City should have done more to save the powwow, considering it funded the Tooele City Arts Festival with $10,000 this year.

“The arts festival is a darn good event but there’s no education there,” she said. “Apparently [city officials] don’t think they’ll benefit from the powwow.”

She said without the powwow, the entire festival may be in jeopardy. Typically, she said the powwow draws a crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people.

“The powwow is the one that brings all the people,” she said. “Now the festival is in big jeopardy of being gone forever and it’s too bad because there’s nothing in Tooele that can give the education that the powwow, the rock club and the rendezvous can give the kids. That’s what we were always geared up for.”

But the organizer of the mountain man rendezvous, Blair Hope, said the Festival of the Old West will continue — and was still a success despite the absence of the powwow.

“It’s a public, family event, and with all due respect, it’s very obvious that the public will come even if the powwow isn’t there because we had a great turnout,” he said.

He added that if Chavez doesn’t organize the powwow next year, he will find a way to put it on.

“If he wants to take it over, I really don’t care anymore,” Chavez said.

He said the rest of the festival has adequate funding.

“We had a great time for all that showed up,” Hope said. “We’re going to continue on with flying colors.”

Sarah Miley: swest@tooeletranscript.com