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Dancing to the beat of different
drummers: Pow Wow this weekend
By Marshall Young
February 28, 2008 | The Native American Student Council
doesn't just sell fry bread on campus. The council will
host the 35th annual NASC Pow Wow on Friday and Saturday
in the Nelson Field House.
The event offers the opportunity for to experience
the variety of tribal cultures by seeing traditional
dress, dancing, drumming and other forms of entertainment.
Tribe members and performers will come from Utah, Idaho,
Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico.
"This is the biggest event we put on all year," said
Kenji Bearchum, USU student and president of the NASC.
"My favorite thing to see at the pow wow is the fancy
dancing."
The knowledge and skill they need to have is incredible,
especially when you know that the music they dance to
normally isn't prepared by the performer. They will
be judged on how well they handle the particular song
selected for them. Not only are the dancers judged,
but the drummers are as well. Prizes will be awarded
to those judged to be the most impressive.
Tribes to be represented include Cheyenne, Comanche,
Southern Paiute, Cherokee, Navajo and more. The emcee
of the event will be Randy Wood, a Canadian Cree.
Much of the money the NASC earns by selling fry bread
on campus, and having events such as the Miss Indian
USU Pageant, go toward both setting up this event, and
establishing scholarships for those who are Native American.
Additionally, NASC itself provides a valuable learning
experience for its members while studying at USU.
"The best thing about being a part of the NASC
is seeing how those who participate in the organization
grow," said Bearchum. "Many of those who participate
in our organization end up being leaders in their tribes
or wherever, and the experiences they receive are great
for them."
The pow wow will start at 7 p.m. Friday and go until
about 11. There will be two sessions on Saturday. The
first session will begin at noon and go until 5. The
second session will start at 6 p.m. and end around 11.
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