Pow Wow and 11th Street Bar - Bandera, TX

[retiredhappy]

My daughter and I went to Bandera to day for a Pow Wow our friends were putting on. I met Diane and Dennis Eagle Horse in Delores Colorado at the Ute Mountain RV Park. I was having trouble getting level (whoever put in the cement pads apparently didn't own a level) and Dennis came over to see if he could help. He saw my Texas plates and asked where I was from. I told him a little town in Texas called Kerrville. He started laughing and said they were from Ingram, which is almost in Kerrville. The Eagle Horses have three sons, two of them twins. All the boys dance and are really sweet young men.

This is my daughter and TaCha, one of the Eagle Horse twins.



It never cease to amaze me how patriotic the Indians are considering how they were/are treated in this country. Every Pow Wow starts with the Grand Entry of the US flag, the state flag where they are performing and a POW flag. The US flag and state flag circle the arena and the POW flag circles in the opposite direction to show they were part of the war but separate. This is Dennis and one of the boys carrying the flags.



This is an Apache dancer.



They start the children dancing really young and you'd be surprised how good some of these young ones are. This little guy is about four years old.



I'm not sure what tribe this man belongs to but his regalia was beautiful.



It was really hot and humid so we headed into Bandera to the famous or infamous 11th street bar. Apparently this bar is known as far away as Europe. They have hitching rails out front so you see horses tied up right along side the motorcycles. What a hoot.



The old original section of the bar has some interesting decor. Believe me it was hot enough and my bra was soaking I gave serious consideration to throwing mine up there, too.





This bar was full of people of all kinds and dress codes; cowboys, bikers, tourists in Harley T-shirts, and of every age.

Came home and took a nap (hot weather - cold beer equals nap). We're going back tomorrow morning for the ourdoor church service with Indian flute music and a traditional Lakota blessing.

I was a good girl - I did NOT buy any jewelry. I DID buy Indian fry bread - yummmmmm.

[mtngal]

Wow, great pictures Karen and what a fun week-end! I wish I could hear the flute music tomorrow morning.

[Lotus]

Karen,
Glad that you are back home now! Looks like you and daughter are having a great weekend. I would also enjoy the Pow Wow as well as the bar. Your pix are great!

Becky

[snowball]

very good photo's but then what do we expect? It looked like it was very fun and interesting
sheila

[SeeyaGal]

Loved the Pow Wow Costumes, I just love watching them dance too! Dan and I were in Bandera in 2006. We were camped at Medina Lake with some friends and ventured over there for dinner. We went in the Restaurant that had the saddles for seats to sit at on the left side of the Restaurant. On the right side were big picnic type tables and John Wayne photo's everywhere. Loved the 5 & 10 store there and I was looking for a pair of ankle cowboy boots and they were expensive there way over $100.00 so I waited and got the same in Leon Mexico for $45 hand shanked boots too! Speaking of Indians, I have such a crush on Actor Eric Schweig ( famous for the Last of the Mohigans and Follow the River movies) but don't tell Dan lol!

[avalen]

what great pictures, love to see those native costumes the indians wear
for their PowWows.

[Shirlv]

Karen, I really enjoyed your pictures. I took my grandchildren to a Pow Wow in Western Maryland. I was very moved by their ceremony. They said "they not only honored their male warriors but also their female warriors". They proceeded to honor a young woman just back from Desert Storm. My youngest gd (8yrs) said " I wish I was Indian, all I get to do is wear a stupid green hat once a year". I agree they are special.

[retiredhappy]

Shirlv you're so right about them honoring their women as well as men. In the Grand Entry notice the US flag carrier is a woman. She is Virgie Raven Hawk, a well known flute player. She served in the Army for 23 years and was inducted into the Alamo Kiowa Gourd Society as a warrior for her service. I think the Indians understood women's Lib long before the rest of us.

Was on a tour at Sky City Acoma Pueblo a couple of years ago. Our guide was explaining how the property is passed thru the women and that they decide who will own what and who will marry who. Was really funny cause there were a couple of good ole boys who having great difficulty with this concept.

[MsBHaven]

Loved the Pow-Wow photos. I'm also amazed at how patriotic the Indians are considering the past. We have a Pow-Wow coming up here in TN in a couple of weeks and am looking forward to going there again. Love that flute music too!

[Redetotry]

Beautiful pictures the lttle boy dancing was so cute.

I want to go to the 11th Street Bar! Looks like a great time was had by all.

[Bethers]

Oh, so neat - and I bet the church service today was just as neat.

Love it all!

[Cedar518]

Thanks for sharing those great shots from the powwow. I was lucky enough to attend a powwow twice in Shelburne, VT. Just as the one you were at, the same thing happened at the one i was at,... the flag was brought into the circle,... amazing, considering. My hat is off to my native american/first nations friends.

[rvgrammy1953]

Your photos are GREAT!!! Glad you had a good time.....Ernie now wants to visit the 11th Street Bar....

Lori