Arrow White wins new Nissan at Four Bears Powwow
December Arrow White in her 2024 Nissan Versa.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Shoshone-Bannock tribal member, December Arrow White, was shocked when she was announced a winner for the Three Car Giveaway at Four Bears Powwow in New Town, N.D. on May 26.
During the announcement of names, they were filling up on gas for the ride home, when fellow Sho-Ban Georgette Running Eagle, gave her a heads-up through text. December and her daughter, Ontaria, immediately ran back to the arena.
Fifty names were drawn from female dancers, male dancers, and singers. Winners were picked through a process of elimination.
Contestants qualified for the contest sponsored by the Four Bears Powwow Committee by making all spot checks, exhibitions, and grand entries.
Other female local dancers in the drawing were Michelle Kipp, Summer Baldwin, and Ontaria Arrow White.
December and Ontaria, were both in the running for the top five. They thought about what would happen if Ontaria won, which could have been a problem since she didn’t have a license.
As they got down to the last two names December said she didn’t know for sure if her name was still in there, but she was hopeful. When the second to the last name called wasn’t hers she sat in silence.
“We were stunned, we were like, ‘Is this really happening?’ We didn’t want to get all excited and somebody else’s name gets drawn,” she said.
When the emcee verified her win she got the first pick, so she chose the black vehicle.
Her new 2024 Nissan Versa is fuel efficient, which is different since she’s never owned a car. The updated technology features are also something she’s getting used to.
The male car winner was Jamon Paskemin from Saskatchewan, Canada, and the singer car winner was Kevin Kingbird of Minnesota, who sings with Battle River.
The stroke of luck is appreciated after totaling their van last year by hitting a deer in Great Falls, Mont. coming home from a powwow in Alberta, Canada.
December recently graduated from Idaho State University with her Bachelor of Applied Science in Workplace Training and Leadership. It took her 27 years to complete her education and she’s proud of her accomplishment. They announced the fact after she won the drawing and called it her graduation gift.
As a traditional and jingle dancer, December and her family attend over 30 powwows year-round and travel far and wide. Recent powwow’s she’s been to were Pechanga in January, the Seminole Tribal Fair Powwow, and next is the Coushatta Powwow in Kinder, La.
December said although she didn’t win her dance competition, she still came home with the biggest trophy.
Her advice to other powwow people is to try attending different powwows.
“Go somewhere new and make an adventure of it. We try to go to new and different places and powwows throughout the year,” she said, adding this was her family’s first time at Four Bears.
She’s thankful to Georgette Running Eagle for texting her and grateful to the Four Bears Powwow Committee for their generosity.
