Photo by Sean Jeter
Ian Gallagher of the Klamath Indians presents his regalia during the opening ceremonies of the Powwow.

Tribal chanting and drum beats could be heard from McNeal Pavilion, Saturday as the Native American Student Union’s 17th annual spring Powwow kicked off.

Traditional attire with feathers, beads, bells and shells clothed participants and dancers as they entered the building.

“A lot of people have lost their culture, and to some this Powwow is all they have,” said Maymi Preston, NASU co-chair. “Many have their traditions and this is a good way to bring it into the light, and really help people have cultural sharing.”

Powwows are times for Native American people to come together to dance, sing, visit, renew old friendships and make new ones. The powwow has an open invitation to anyone with respect and basic etiquette.

This year’s traditional guests included Apache Crown Dancers. Legend holds that the Mountain Spirits had given good spirits to the people as a way to guide and direct their lives.

Their dance is a healing and directional dance for the Apache People where dancers symbolize the four directions and a caretaker.

Members of the Washoe-Paiute Tribe traveled with this year’s host drum from Gardnerville, Nev. Drum keeper Martin Montgomery of the Red Hoop musicians explained their name.

“Our name signifies the men that sit around the drum. It signifies our color, when we’re in a complete circle it makes a red hoop,” he said.

He also explained the connection of the drum to native culture.

“The drum is one of our keepers of life and through the beat it signifies the heart beat for all the men who sit here and play,” he said.

Red Hoop directly translates to “brothers around a drum.” Jamie Stump, a drummer and singer with Red Hoop, talked about their 10 year history.

Dance competitions for all ages took place including: men’s traditional, men’s fancy dance, men’s grass dance, women’s traditional, women’s fancy shawl dance and women’s jingle dress dance.

Brent Florendo, Native American studies professor at SOU and NASU faculty advisor said one of the focuses of the powwow is community.

“To sustain our community, give our community an opportunity to gather together and honor Indian ways and share it with everyone,” Florendo said. “Today I’m a drummer and a dancer.”

Fry bread was made and sold outside the pavilion. The flat, fried dough has been stereotyped as a cultural Native American food. Preston elaborated on the cultural significance of the bread.

“Not too long ago, Native Americans living on reservations could not get access to nutritional foods,” she said. “The government pretty much gave them flour and stuff that native people couldn’t really do anything with. So with the flour they added salt and learned how to make fried bread. So fried bread came out of a necessity, a lack of food. It became really popular, and now people want to eat it.”

Many SOU students, including Al Williams attended the powwow to learn about Native American culture.

“Mainly I’m here because I’m trying to understand the indigenous culture, prior to the arrival to the Europeans.”

Many attended for the cultural experience, but some attended just to have a good time.

“I was here last year, and powwows are awesome, and they’re cultural and they’re pretty,” said SOU student Mimi Alvi.

Other activities at the powwow included: the grand entry dance, honoring veterans, a dinner, raffles, bush dance demonstrations and exhibits.

For more information on the 2009 Spring Powwow or Native Americans in Southern Oregon, contact NASU at 552-6463t (541) 552 6463.