Still Dancing

Thursday, 5/1/97

Still Dancing

UCLA's annual pow-wow, happening this weekend on the Intramural Field, is a cultural event, a learning experience and a way to keep the ancient dances alive.

By Nerissa Pacio

Daily Bruin Contruibutor

Put up a few tee pees, carry some bows and arrows, set up a camp with bon fires and a Pow-Wow is born. Well, not for the UCLA American Indian Student Association (AISA) and others participating in this weekend's twelfth annual Pow-Wow on UCLA's Intramural Field.

"There will be no camping permitted, no weapons, and definitely no tee pees," laughs Angie Brown, a member of the American Indian Studies Center and this year's Pow-Wow director.

"In fact," chuckles Robert Rhoan, the Pow-Wow's finance director, "even if you do bring along your own tee pee, I'm afraid you'll just have to take it down!"

Despite the large political issues drumming against the small number of American Indian students on campus, organizers of the Pow-Wow interweave a light-hearted spirit about the upcoming cultural celebration without diminishing the importance of their political agenda. The students even manage a few laughs about American Indian stereotypes, but the students involved with the Pow-Wow make it clear that tee pees and camping are not what a Pow-Wow is about.

With this year's theme of "Five Hundred Years and Still Dancing," the message combines the Pow-Wow's playful celebratory spirit with a powerful social statement.

"It sounds cute," Brown says, "but it's also a political message about American Indians stating that we are still here. They haven't rubbed us out yet."

"Our theme signifies the efforts of American Indians to persevere despite our oppression," says Natalie Stites, the Pow-Wow Accommodations Coordinator. "However, the Pow-Wow is not a sociological showcase. While we recognize community problems, we are celebrating our culture and showing our strengths, not our weaknesses, through this Plains Indians tradition," Stites says.

But with the Algonquin word "Pow-Wow" meaning a political meeting or gathering, it seems inevitable that this cultural celebration will also surface political issues. Rhoan says current issues about community health, alcoholism, gaming rights and reservations will be addressed in the informational booths and displays.

With an expected turnout of 7,000 to 15,000 people, the year-long preparations culminate in one of the largest and most visible functions on the UCLA campus. Along with the traditional dancing, singing and drumming of performers from throughout the United States and Canada, the Pow-Wow invites audience interaction with educational booths, arts and crafts, food tasting, a dance contest, and acts such as the "Snake Dance" which includes audience participation.

An ethnomusicology class even put on a special American Indian dance workshop this week on campus to encourage participation in the Pow-Wow dances.

Although the various dances and costumes are unique to each tribe, with the largest representative groups including the Sioux, Navajo, Cherokee, Camanchee, and Pawnee, the unification of each tribe's traditions during the Pow-Wow create a Pan-Indian event.

"The tribes are their own separate nations with existing tensions," says Stuart Wuttke, the Pow-Wow Vendor Coordinator, "but rivalries are put aside during this unifying celebration."

However, gathering the many tribes does not discount the tribal differences. The goal is not to mesh the varying tribes but to celebrate their uniqueness. For example, the origins of the "Grass Dance" vary between tribes. Some believe it came from the stomping of grass to signal the beginning of a ceremony while other tribes agree that it imitates the actions of tribal warriors. Drumming traditions also vary according to tribes. Some allow women to participate through song, while others are strictly for men participation.

Even the costumes are unique according to groups and even from person to person.

"The dazzling colorful costumes not only vary between tribes, but also amongst the individual dancers who create the decorations themselves. The costumes have significance to each dancer," Stites says.

Although the Pow-Wow creates intertribal unity by celebrating the tribal differences, Stites adds that intercultural celebration is also key.

"We want as many American Indians to join in the Pow-Wow as possible, but we also want other cultural communities to participate and see what we are about," Stites says.

Other key goals of the Pow-Wow include college recruitment and the education of the campus community.

"We wanted to create a forum for American Indians to participate in our culture and make ourselves known since very few such events exist in L.A. and the surrounding areas," Wuttke says.

"It's true," says Rhoan, nodding in agreement. "People should know that their is a history to where we live. We are the history to this land."

With costumes of colorful feathers and strings of leather, rhythmic song and dance, and education about American Indian culture abounding in every shape and form, a tee pee will be the last thing to be missed.

CULTURE: The UCLA Pow-Wow will be presented by the American Indian Student Association May 3 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and May 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Intramural Field. Admission is free. For more info., call (310) 206-7513.

C. Urso

Bill Neal (Mah-na-che-a-shun) aka Elk Whistle will be a guest flute player at this year's pow-wow.

"Southern Thunder" will perform at UCLA's annual pow-wow.

Abe Frajndlich

Joel Shopteese is the head judge for the pow-wow dance competitions. Related Links:

UCLA American Indian Interdepartmental Program