By Joe Morey
News Editor
The Honor the Earth Powwow Grounds are slated for a major renovation this summer using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The LCO Tribal Governing Board (TGB) has allocated $500,000 towards the project which will include much-needed improvements, from water, sanitation and electrical issues up to a renovated speaker stand and a west exit out of the arena for flag bearers.
According to Booki Wielgot, ARPA Projects Coordinator, all of the work can’t be completed by this year’s powwow in July so the work has been delegated to two phases, one before the powwow and the second phase will begin after July.
“Members of the LCO Powwow Committee met with Kyle Olson, Design Team Leader with DBS Group to discuss all the issues,” Wielgot said. “After the design agreement with DBS is approved by the Tribal Governing Board, the company will work with local vendors and LCO Development to create construction plans and cost estimates to be reviewed by the Pow Wow committee and TGB. Once the design is finalized, a construction agreement will be reviewed by the Legal Department and approved by the TGB.”
Recommendations made to the TGB by the Powwow Committee included a new speaker stand, a west exit, creating a midway for the vendors to make more room around the arena for guests, upgrading the seating area bleachers, more parking, more camping areas, the electrical system, and a canopy for the drum groups to provide more shade.