Twister Visit at Thundering Spirit!

This pow wow is our Hometown Family Pow wow and we work all weekend, so I wasn't able to get any pics or video, BUT I was fortunate to get pictures of an Awesome Twister that appeared.  After researching and interviewing I got many accounts of where it started and the path it took before it came across in front of my shop, so I will tell the tale!

The Twister began at the entrance gate, two Jingle Dress Dancers came in and insisted on paying.  Dancers in Regalia are normally allowed in Free, but they were adamant about paying to enter.  It was after they entered that the Twister began by swinging the entrance gate wide open and then slamming it closed.  (as told by Terry Renninger )  The twister then went toward the southwest side of the vendor circle and picked up a trash can as if someone had lifted it, tipped it and threw all the trash in it into a certain vendor's booth then tipped the can back and set it down as it was.  (as told by Utah Farris)  It was later found that this particular vendor may have broken the 'no imports' rule.... Hmmmmm...........

It then spun around a bit around the committee booth and came up the west side of the vendor circle.  It headed for the dance circle through a crowd of dancers and visitors that were crowded around to watch the dance.  It took a few folding chair covers and a lot of other debris and took it way up into the sky.  It stopped right at the West gate of the dance circle and did not enter and headed around to the northwest side.  Tony Ledford relayed an account that a woman's Dance fan had been taken up and they watched it go 8 times higher than the cell tower and took it the entire ride, which they later found it in the woods off to the northeast side of the pow wow and returned it to the person.  I actually got a picture of the beginning of this fans journey!

By this time it was right in front of my view, the children were running in circles within the Vortex with all the debris and laughing.  Then it headed for a screen tent that was set up and as it neared it pulled the tent pegs out and they flew at the children which made them rethink the playing in it (we scolded the child in particular that was a part of our extended family) 

 

At that point Ed Winddancer (in Full Regalia was walking over to his tent which was right next to this one.  Well Let's just say they don't call him Winddancer for nothing   Because the twister went around and in between there and the drum arbor. 

At this point it was at the north side of the circle and heading to the northeast into the demonstration village.  I should have followed and continued to take pictures, but was in such awe of what I witnessed and thankful. 

It passed right by Arvel Bird's tent as well untouched, on it's way to the village.  It really was an Awesome encounter and everyone was touched by it - even if their eyes are still not opened... even if they don't know it... even if they don't want it... take it as you "think" you know it BUT it's Not about YOU...  The TRUTH will set you FREE

And now [men] see not the bright light which [is] in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. ~Job 37:21