Battle of the Guards: Native Color Guards compete at Seminole Powwow

Friday - February 23, 2024 by Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), leads the Southern Ute Veterans Association in the Battle of the Guards, where the veterans payed homage to the point man as they bring their wounded back to safety. Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army) and Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), providing cover with reproduction M16 rifles during their color guard presentation.
Randy Medicine Bear, dressed in full regalia, stands in with the Southern Ute Veterans Association on day one. Medicine Bear has served as an arena director for numerous powwows over the years, and calls Loveland, Colo. his home.
Carrying the colors — Southern Ute Veterans Association members, Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army) brings in the Southern Ute tribal flag, and Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), brings in the Ute Mountain Ute tribal flag ahead of Grand Entry, Saturday, Feb. 10.
Dancers make their way into the arena during the 51st annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow, Friday, Feb. 9 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Southern Ute Veterans Association treasurer, Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), brings in the Eagle Staff during Grand Entry at the 51st annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow in Hollywood, Fla. — the powwow brought Native Color Guards from across Indian Country for the “Battle of the Guards” contest special on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Mitchelene BigMan (U.S. Army) is the President and Founder of The Native American Women Warriors Organization, the first ever recognized all Native American women color guard. As a veteran and advocate, she leads The Native American Women Warriors in full regalia, while also advocating for MMIR during their groups color guard presentation.
Southern Ute Veterans Association members — Raymond Baker (U.S. Navy Retired), Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army), Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), the Association served alongside other Color Guards throughout the weekend during Florida’s largest annual powwow.
Billy Walker, a Seminole alligator wrestler, puts on a daring performance for powwow spectators each night during the powwow. The alligator demonstration ties back to the Tribe’s history and hunting practices in Florida’s wetlands
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Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), leads the Southern Ute Veterans Association in the Battle of the Guards, where the veterans payed homage to the point man as they bring their wounded back to safety. Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army) and Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), providing cover with reproduction M16 rifles during their color guard presentation.
Randy Medicine Bear, dressed in full regalia, stands in with the Southern Ute Veterans Association on day one. Medicine Bear has served as an arena director for numerous powwows over the years, and calls Loveland, Colo. his home.
The Seminole Tribe’s Color Guard also competed in the Battle of the Guards.
Carrying the colors — Southern Ute Veterans Association members, Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army) brings in the Southern Ute tribal flag, and Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), brings in the Ute Mountain Ute tribal flag ahead of Grand Entry, Saturday, Feb. 10.
Dancers make their way into the arena during the 51st annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow, Friday, Feb. 9 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Raymond Baker (U.S. Navy Retired), represents the Southern Ute Veterans Association in Hollywood, Fla., carrying the Eagle Staff during an intertribal at the 51st annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow.
Southern Ute Veterans Association treasurer, Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), brings in the Eagle Staff during Grand Entry at the 51st annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow in Hollywood, Fla. — the powwow brought Native Color Guards from across Indian Country for the “Battle of the Guards” contest special on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Mitchelene BigMan (U.S. Army) is the President and Founder of The Native American Women Warriors Organization, the first ever recognized all Native American women color guard. As a veteran and advocate, she leads The Native American Women Warriors in full regalia, while also advocating for MMIR during their groups color guard presentation.
Southern Ute Veterans Association members — Raymond Baker (U.S. Navy Retired), Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army), Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), the Association served alongside other Color Guards throughout the weekend during Florida’s largest annual powwow.
Billy Walker, a Seminole alligator wrestler, puts on a daring performance for powwow spectators each night during the powwow. The alligator demonstration ties back to the Tribe’s history and hunting practices in Florida’s wetlands
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Thumbnail image of Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), leads the Southern Ute Veterans Association in the Battle of the Guards, where the veterans payed homage to the point man as they bring their wounded back to safety. Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army) and Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), providing cover with reproduction M16 rifles during their color guard presentation.
Thumbnail image of Randy Medicine Bear, dressed in full regalia, stands in with the Southern Ute Veterans Association on day one. Medicine Bear has served as an arena director for numerous powwows over the years, and calls Loveland, Colo. his home.
Thumbnail image of
Thumbnail image of Carrying the colors — Southern Ute Veterans Association members, Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army) brings in the Southern Ute tribal flag, and Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), brings in the Ute Mountain Ute tribal flag ahead of Grand Entry, Saturday, Feb. 10.
Thumbnail image of Dancers make their way into the arena during the 51st annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow, Friday, Feb. 9 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Thumbnail image of
Thumbnail image of Southern Ute Veterans Association treasurer, Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), brings in the Eagle Staff during Grand Entry at the 51st annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow in Hollywood, Fla. — the powwow brought Native Color Guards from across Indian Country for the “Battle of the Guards” contest special on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Thumbnail image of Mitchelene BigMan (U.S. Army) is the President and Founder of The Native American Women Warriors Organization, the first ever recognized all Native American women color guard. As a veteran and advocate, she leads The Native American Women Warriors in full regalia, while also advocating for MMIR during their groups color guard presentation.
Thumbnail image of Southern Ute Veterans Association members — Raymond Baker (U.S. Navy Retired), Bruce Valdez (U.S. Army), Gordon Hammond (U.S. Marines), Bruce LeClaire (U.S. Army), the Association served alongside other Color Guards throughout the weekend during Florida’s largest annual powwow.
Thumbnail image of Billy Walker, a Seminole alligator wrestler, puts on a daring performance for powwow spectators each night during the powwow. The alligator demonstration ties back to the Tribe’s history and hunting practices in Florida’s wetlands
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The 51st annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Fla. — the powwow brought Native Color Guards from across Indian Country for the “Battle of the Guards.” The contest special was held in recognition of the late Stephen Bowers of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, who served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and as the leader of the Seminole Tribe’s Color Guard in the decades that followed. The Seminole Tribal Fair and Powwow took place from Friday, Feb. 9 — Sunday, Feb. 11 and included a Native arts market and cinema showcase.  

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