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UCLA Pow-Wow promotes Native American culture

Traditional arts, dances celebrate tribal life, pride

By Nancy Hsu

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Each of the 182 eagle feathers on Gary Richards' traditional Lakota Indian dress represents a fallen warrior.

"I know each one of them by name," said Richards, a bilingual teacher. "We're the warrior society of our people."

Richards was one of the many Native Americans who came from Canada and throughout the United States to participate in the 10th annual UCLA Pow-Wow celebration Saturday and Sunday on the Intramural Field.

Richards, wearing orange and yellow Native American dress, traveled with his wife and two young sons from Pineridge, South Dakota, to represent the Lakota Indians in the inter-tribal dance competitions.

"We believe this dance is the natural order of things," he said, referring to the Round Dance, a social activity where particpators do a two-step, side-stepping dance in a circle on the field. The circle symbolizes the peoples' continuance ­ that there is no beginning or end.

"If we stop this dance, our people will die," he said over the loud drum beat. "We dance for the world, we dance for the sick ones, for people who don't know their culture."

The day began around 10 a.m. with a ceremonial prayer to the four winds (North, South, East and West). A priest then blessed the dance arena. To cross the field, you must go around the circle because stepping into the circle is an insult, said Carmen Thomas, the wife of a Gourd Dancer.

The Gourd Dance took place before the tribal dancers' grand entry. To be able to gourd dance is an honor for Indian men because it is done to protect tribal traditions, and therefore, the people.

Only a warrior, such as a war veteran or a person who served in the armed forces, can be a gourd dancer. Even then, you must pass a series of tests and personal trials before acceptance by the exclusive group.

It took Robert Thomas, 66, of Santa Ana, three years before he was accepted to the Golden State Gourd Dance Society.

"I was quite active in Indian activities in college," Thomas said. "In 1987, I started coming to Pow-Wows. One dancer asked if I was interested. I was inducted at the Loyola (Marymount University) Pow-Wow five years ago."

Thomas and four other gourd dancers had red and blue blankets draped over their shoulders, symbolizing the United States. They also carried eagle feathers, staffs and wore bells around their legs. The eagle is significant to Native Americans because they believe it carries a person's soul to heaven.

As the dancers performed, people wandered among more than 30 stands with vendors selling everything from pouches and drums to T-shirts.

In addition, beating and chanting could be heard amid the heavy scent of burning sage and sweet grass.

The sage and sweet grass are burned to carry the peoples' prayers to the Creator, said Marvin Austin, a Comanche Indian from Long Beach.

"Indians pray to the great spirit himself, The Creator," Austin said as he sat with three Apache friends in the stand. "You're never praying for yourself. You always pray for other people."

Austin, 53, spent 15 years on Comanche, Cheyenne and Kiowa reservations in Oklahoma, Montana and the Dakotas. He also spent many years of his life making Native American art.

"I used to do the Pow-Wow trail," Austin said. "I went from Canada to Arizona to sell my stuff. Everything's handmade. Real rawhide, buckskin and bones. We use all our original stuff when we can. It preserves the traditions."

One of his creations, a white leather shield painted with red and green symbols and adorned with red straps and feathers, can stop a ball from a black powder gun, he claims.

"That's a bear," Austin said, pointing to the shield. "The symbols on the sides are the bear paws, it's got a little medicine ball made out of bobcat. That center symbol is the sun and the four directions. The four directions are considered holy. When the sun rises, the red comes in from the east, giving life."

Miguel Trujillo, a cell and molecular biology graduate student, was playing soccer when he heard the drum beats and saw the tents.

He ventured into the area and was drawn into Judi and Bob Bennett's arts and crafts tent filled with sculptures and painted gourds.

"I learned about the white buffalo and its significance," Trujillo said. "It's supposed to signify rebirth. I think it's great how they hold onto old traditions."

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