By Lindsay Whitehurst
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CARLISLE - At a powwow, the rules of engagement are simple: get up and dance.

"In the two-step, the woman asks the man to dance. If he says no, then he has to give her something - a bead, a ribbon, take out the trash for a week, whatever," said Karyn Albert, treasurer of the Miami Valley Council for Native Americans.

This weekend, the council will hold its first winter powwow in more than 10 years at the Marketplace of Carlisle. Anyone is welcome to come to the event.

"If I could describe a powwow in just a few words, it would be 'a big smile.' It's a happy time, when people come together," Albert said. She said a powwow is like a family reunion, where representatives of many different tribes get together to celebrate births, weddings and other big events through dance.

Major tribes such as Iroquois, Mohawk, Cherokee and Navajo will be represented. At least 100 dancers should be in attendance, Albert said. Even non-Natives and those with two left feet are invited to join the party. Many dances are inter-tribal, meaning everybody gets on their feet.

"It's very simple to come in and see how it's done. They are very good about explaining everything. And it's always appropriate to ask," Albert said.

Different dances can express anything from respect to healing, competitive spirit to fun.

"This is a very different taste of the Native American culture than what you get on the movie screen," she said.

Four friends founded the council, located in the Dayton area, to combat stereotyping in the media and textbooks and to halt damage to graveyards. Most of the council's money is devoted to a school-supply purchasing drive for Native American children.

The council has held a summer powwow for 16 years. Last summer's event drew nearly 2,000 people.

If you go

Schedule: Doors open at 10 a.m. and the events last until 7 p.m. The dancers' grand entrance is at noon and 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. The powwow begins with a veterans' dance and dancing continues throughout the day. Spectators are invited to join most of the dances. Thirteen vendors will be on site, selling traditional, native-made goods.

Cost: Admission is $5.

Directions (from Cincinnati): The Marketplace at Carlisle is located at 543 Central Ave. in Carlisle. Go north on I-75 and get off on Franklin exit 36. Turn left to 123 and continue northwest for about 4 miles. Central Avenue is on the left.

Information: Call the council office at (937) 275-8599 or the marketplace at (937) 746-0514.