"You should just bring your camera," she said.

"It's not like you're a tourist and besides, later on you might be sad you didn't take any pictures."
I never did take pictures at powwows. In fact, I might be sad looking at still or moving images of that colorful clockwise motion, even if a video did include sound. I looked at the dancers' feet, which seemed to be pounding out the rhythms that really come from sticks on drum. I tried to explain, "I don't really..." She tried to finish my thought, "Yeah...it's too public for you, isn't it? I mean, I don't know...just watching is better right?"
Yes, too public. There are some, but not as many cameras as you might think at a powwow, especially a small one like this one. Public approaching the private realm of the dancers by simply observing them. Capturing their images with a camera would feel like intrusion. Yes, just watching, listening, smelling the dust and the sweetgrass of the powwow grounds and feeling the drumbeats is enough. And it is better. Photos often do show the beauty of the powwow, just like photos can capture something of what the ocean is like. But after having experienced it through all the senses, I've never regretting not taking pictures at a powwow.