George Martin hoisted an eagle staff Saturday afternoon and led the 38th annual Ann Arbor Dance for Mother Earth Powwow into the Saline Middle School gym.

A veteran of military service, Martin received the honor of carrying the symbol of Native American pride and of solidarity among tribes.

Behind him were bearers of the national flags of the United States and Canada, along with the Vietnam veterans' flag. And behind them, in a long line that curved to the right and formed a big oval between the facing sets of bleachers, dozens of celebrants danced in dramatically multicolored regalia.

The thick atmosphere created by burning sage combined with throbbing drums and jangling bells to prickle the backs of necks and underscore the powwow's wow-factor.

“This is a gathering of so many different communities,” said Josh Voss, co-chairman of the University of Michigan’s Native American Student Association. “People come from all over. To take part in it is one of the most remarkable experiences I could ever imagine."

Voss explained Martin’s leading role by saying serving in the military is “very highly respected” among Native Americans.

“We try to go out of our way pay tribute to (veterans) as best we can.”

The powwow was to continue until 10 p.m. Saturday and goes from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Some of the dancers were participating in their first powwow here. Bruce George, who said he was of Chippewa heritage, brought along his three kids from Grand Rapids - Naomi, 9, Niiwin, 8, and Cacie, 6.

Niiwin said he didn’t know how many hours he had practiced or what to call the steps he would be dancing. But he was definite about his favorite finery.

“The bustle,” he said.

The powwow also offered an array of stands for vendors and activists.

Adonia Arteaga, a U-M Latino studies major and powwow planning committee member, was staffing the table that sold official event T-shirts and buttons from years past. The 2008 shirts were available for $5, a bargain compared to the $15 to $18 range for this year’s shirt. A 2002 button observing the event’s 30th anniversary was only 25 cents.

“It’s really good artwork,” Arteaga said of the button.

The fare inside the school cafeteria represented an upgrade from the usual weekday victuals. Shalifoe Foods offered Indian tacos, buffalo burgers and wild rice soup. The big dispenser of cinnamon and sugar on the condiments table was for huge gobs of frybread, which sold for $3 apiece.

One staff member at Rick ‘n’ Joanie’s food stand explained the intricacies of corn soup, with recipes differing from tribe to tribe. Following the method of the Iroquois of Ontario means boiling corn that resembles hominy for at least six to seven hours.

Meanwhile, salt pork is diced, kidney beans boiled. When the corn is ready, the staffer explained, “They’re all thrown together and boiled again for another hour—all the flavors come together.”

Ronald Ahrens is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.