做厙弝けPow Wow brings Native American communities together
Flags planted along the perimeter of the grassy arena at the 52nd annual 做厙弝けPow Wow represented the variety of Native American cultures that gathered on lower campus this past weekend.
They were flags from various American Indian nations: Cheyenne-Arapaho, Desert Band of Chippewa, Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma, Oglala Sioux, Oneida, Kiowa, Cherokee, Din矇/Navajo. Most of them were given as gifts to Cal State 做厙弝け, which hosted the longest running university-based powwow west of the Mississippi River on Saturday and Sunday.
Dancers, singers, drummers, family members, vendors and observers came from local communities and as far as the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest and Canada to gather in celebration, prayer and unity.
Powwow is community I see my family and my friends here, said Amethyst Vazquez, a member of the Saponi-Catawba tribe historically based in North Carolina and Virginia. She wore a red dress with jingles that made a pleasant shaking sound when she walked or danced. Its also a place of prayer. This is where I really connect with my creator, and Im in my regalia. Im in my spirit here.
Markie Seabaugh, 20, a member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, also wore a red jingle dress that she made herself, inspired by her late mom. I grew up going to powwows, she said. I dance for my mother who passed, and for the loved ones who can no longer dance anymore.
The powwow was in a new location this year the intramural rugby and soccer fields on lower campus, instead of the Upper Campus Quad, where it had been held for decades. The new location offered more space to dance, stand in line for Indian Tacos, eat, browse the vendor tents and relax.
In terms of support staff from the university, everybody weve interacted with has just been super efficient and accommodating, said Craig Stone, a longtime powwow organizer and American Indian Studies faculty member whos officially retiring this year. We could not have asked for better support. We ended up having more space. Families are able to set up their tents. And the grass is higher in quality its something else.
Stone and other organizers estimated that about 6,000 people attended the two-day powwow, which is the largest and oldest continuously running student-sponsored event on campus. Its also the largest gathering of American Indians in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
I was happy to see my flag out there, said Justin Littledeer, 37, a dancer who grew up in northeast Oklahoma and is a member of the Cherokee tribe. (Powwow) keeps me grounded. It connects me to home. Its a family thing. Being in the arena, and being around Natives dancing, 100% it connects me back.
A Marine Corps veteran, Littledeer now lives at Camp Pendleton. In my lifetime, theres more of a taking control of the narrative, he said. For a lot of years, other people were telling our stories, but now it seems like Natives are taking control of that ourselves. And thats a good thing. Its really positive.
Rue Cepeda 22, former president of CSULBs American Indian Student Council, was one of a handful of alumni who came back to the powwow to volunteer. She helped sell the popular 做厙弝け Pow Wow at Puvungna T-shirt, which nearly sold out again this year.
Powwow is an expression of our sovereignty as tribal nations, said the 做厙弝け resident. Its really about our nation-to-nation relationships between tribes. We all respect one another. Were all coming here to powwow with the intention of not only dancing but creating relationships with one another.
Elizabeth Bryant, a fourth-year civil engineering student at CSULB, also serves as secretary of the American Indian Student Council.
For me, its really just a time to come together as a community and celebrate our culture, said Bryant, who is Choctaw. Its also a great opportunity to educate people. There have been a lot of questions, and its been really nice to tell people what its all about . Its pretty special to be a part of it.
Larissa Bohay served as head woman dancer during the 52nd 做厙弝けPow Wow. She gave and received gifts during the two-day gathering, and led all dancers in a slow, contemplative dance Sunday afternoon.
Bohay is half Kiowa, half Bishop Piute. Her grandfather Phil was one of the founders of the 做厙弝けPow Wow in 1969. Her father, Steve, brother, Eric, and uncles have also been closely involved in the powwow for decades.
Bohay has participated in the 做厙弝けPow Wow since she was a little girl. She dances in the traditional ways, but she also sings.
I feel like Im not doing it for myself, Im doing it for people who are hurt, or are mourning, or are sick, or having a hard time, she said. I feel like I dont do it for me. I do it for others. Thats one of the reasons why I keep going.
