On Pioneer Day, Ira Walks was in Liberty Park celebrating his heritage — a tradition that goes back a lot further than the days of 1847.
A member of the Crow Nation, Walks was there to dance at the annual Native American Celebration in the Park Powwow.
“This is what my family has done for generations. I do this to pass down our tradition to our family,” said the Pocatello, Idaho, man. “I’m here with my brother and my grandson to dance. It’s the Crow traditional dance, and we’re brought up doing it.”
The Mormon pioneers weren't the first ones to live in the Salt Lake Valley. And the pre-1847 populace is remembered in the annual Native American Celebration in the Park Powwow.
“We just want to share our traditions with the people here,” Walks said. “It’s important to us to keep this alive.”
The Days of ’47 Parade reached an end at Liberty Park, feeding directly into the powwow. And the powwow featured dancers from a number of tribes performing throughout the afternoon and evening, a play area — complete with inflatable bounce houses and slides — for the kids, and a variety of vendors selling native crafts.
And there was native food. Well, Navajo tacos, at least, along with food trucks featuring Korean barbecue, Hawaiian barbecue, pizza and falafels.
