The Power of a Powwow has Been Described as a Collective Heartbeat that Draws People Together

The power of a powwow has been described as a collective heartbeat that draws people together. Celebrants often say they feel unity and freedom as they dance in a circle. Those elements are especially vital for those serving time at the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem, where life is spent behind barbed wire and fortified walls. But as KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, for one day each year, inmates get to wear Native apparel and move to the rhythm of a rawhide drum with friends and loved ones. Warning: This story contains mentions of violent crime, suicide and terminal illness.