U of R Celebrates Native American Heritage, Culture in Powwow

About 300 Native American singers and dancers along with Native American food and craft vendors from across the United States and Canada participated in the 2nd Annual University of Redlands Powwow at the Alumni Greek Theater over the weekend, celebrating the rich Native American culture, history and heritage. Festivities in the weekend-long event included singing contests and vendors. Head staff included Emcee Ruben Littlehead, Happy Flats, Mo.; Arena Director Rusty Gillette, Falls Church, Va.; Arena Director Juaquin Hamilton, Shawnee, Okla.; Host Northern Drum Young Spirit, Frog Lake, Alberta; Host Southern Drum Buc Wyld, Chinle, Ariz.; Head Man Dancer Chaske Heminger, Sisseton, S.D.; Head Woman Dancer Laurie Whitecloud, Barona, Calif. Powwows originated with the Omaha tribe but are traditional to many of the tribes in the northern and southern plains areas of the United States. “These gatherings are of great traditional and spiritual value to these tribes and to others who have adopted these traditions,” said Nora Pulskamp, Navajo, powwow coordinator, and supporting the educational journey coordinator in Native Student Programs. Pulskamp said that during the relocation era of the 1950s, Native people from different tribes around the United States began building communities in urban areas and sharing different tribal practices with each other. It was during this time that powwows began to spread throughout tribes and across the country. “Powwows have become a vital part of building a strong Native community, as many people will travel across the country throughout the year to participate in these gatherings, building extended networks of friends and family,” Pulskamp explained. Many universities with strong on-campus Native communities host powwows as a way to invite other Native communities to their campus. “With the generous support of San Manuel, the University of Redlands developed Native Student Programs to help build and support a Native student community on campus. Through the Supporting the Educational Journey program within Native Student Programs and a partnership with the Native American Resource Center, we have been able bring this event to campus,” Pulskamp said. Last year’s powwow was over two years in the making, and those involved are hoping it will become a long-standing tradition on campus. University powwows play a very important role, as they show Native communities that there is a place for them on campus, Pulskamp shared. “It brings families, children, and hopefully future University of Redlands students to the campus, allowing them to build familiarity with the University,” Pulskamp said. “It also gives Native students an opportunity to reconnect with a community that sometimes can feel very far away while they are trying to complete their education,” she added.