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Annual powwow set to excite Halenbeck Saturday
Members of SCSU's American Indian Student Organization invite all members of the SCSU and St. Cloud community to join them in the annual powwow, beginning at noon Saturday.
The event, which is planned by the organization's students, will include traditional powwow performances, a feast, drumming and camaraderie between members of different backgrounds. The event is free for all and anyone is encouraged to attend.
For those who have never attended a traditional powwow, American Indian Center outreach coordinator Tom Andrus described the event, using a Christian context as a metaphor. He said the powwow can be thought of as a sock hop, except that there is no DJ. Instead, there are drum groups. There are different types of dancing that are either for specific groups (such as men only or women only) and there are large group dances in which everyone participates.
In addition to dancing, the powwow will be a time for old friends and new to feast together.
Both events are free of charge, an earmark of traditional powwows.
"Our powwows have always been traditional," Andrus said. "They differ from contest powwows where dances pay to come and dance. At our powwow, the dancers even get paid."
They payment is nominal (the price of gas, perhaps), but it is enough to help the dancers get to the powwow to dance.
These "official" dancers aren't the only ones who can participate in the powwow activities, though. People from all across St. Cloud and the area are expected to come for the event, and all are invited to join in the dancing.
"I expect some people will come who have never seen a powwow before," Andrus said. "There should be some international students who will see a whole new side of our culture. There are some students who have been participating in the powwow since they've been on campus."
But the students aren't the only ones enjoying the event.
"There are community members, both who participate and who don't participate. It's really a wide range.We even have some faculty who I don't think have ever missed a show," Andrus said.
The powwow will begin with a grand entry at noon. During the grand entry, the flag bearers will lead all the dancers into Halenbeck. The bearers will carry in the Minnesota state flag, the U.S. flag, a P.O.W. flag, and an eagle staff.
According to Andrus the eagle staff is like a flag for American Indians.
After the flag bearers arrive in Halenbeck, the dancers will enter to the rhythm of drum, with men's traditional dancers first, followed by women's traditional dancers and the rest of the dancers.
The group will continue dancing until about 4 p.m. At 5 p.m. everyone will be invited to the feast. There is another grand entry at 7 p.m., and the dancers continue on until about 10 p.m.
The dances will vary from traditional to more contemporary. Some will include only men, some will include only women and some, like the 49-er, will include both genders.
"A favorite is the 49-er," Andrus said. "It's a fun one, a two-step. It's women's choice, so no men are allowed to dance unless asked by a woman. It's fun for the older people to watch the younger people try to two-step. It's definitely one you've got to see."
Andrus hopes that attendees of the powwow have fun, but he also hopes they learn about the American Indian culture.
"The No. 1 thing I hope (attendees) get out of the powwow is a chance to see the stereotypical American Indian," Andrus said. "I hope they get a chance to stay for the feast and see them when the regalia comes off and they are wearing Nikes and jeans and trying to survive in a society just like everyone else."
Giving non-American Indians a chance to face their stereotypes and learn from them is something that Andrus hopes the powwow helps people do.
"It's easy to get caught up with the stereotype," he said. "The powwow affords people a chance to see the stereotypical American Indian, but also gives them a chance to see the Indians of 2002."
The powwow also serves as a way to bring people together.
"There are intertribal dances," Andrus said. "Some people think that means only different Indian tribes dance, but it really means that everyone in the world can dance. You don't have to be American Indian to dance in the powwow. That is what it is all about � bringing together the world."
Andrus said the powwow couldn't fall on a better day � Earth Day.
"The idea of the powwow has been setting aside differences and coming together," Andrus said. "What better way to start off a powwow than with an Earth Day half marathon? We are all one, let's enjoy the day together."
The powwow preparations have been ongoing for almost a year, and as soon as this year's powwow is over, the American Indian Student Organization will get a jumpstart on organizing for 2003.
"Next Monday they'll (American Indian Student Organization) probably start planning next year's," Andrus said.
Tracy Ust can be reached at: [email protected]
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