Dancing and drumming will once again be the center of attention on the Green May 12 and 13 as 天美麻豆鈥檚 2018 is expected to draw about a thousand participants and spectators to the annual celebration of Native American culture.
Grand entry takes place at noon on both Saturday and Sunday. Rain location for both days is 天美麻豆鈥檚 Leede Arena.
The powwow has been hosted at 天美麻豆 since 1973 by the student group Native Americans at 天美麻豆 (NAD) and the College鈥檚 (NAP). The event enables members of both the 天美麻豆 and Upper Valley communities to observe, participate, and learn from a broad representation of Native American cultural activities. Some participants also come from across the nation.
鈥淭he fact that we鈥檙e going on our 46th year really puts into perspective for me how long this institution has been committed to educating indigenous students going back to the 70s under President John Kemeny,鈥 says Evan Barton 鈥20, who is student co-chair of the powwow organizing committee with Breanna Sheehan 鈥20.
鈥淎 lot of native traditions and practices are about honoring those who have come before us and honoring those around us,鈥 Barton says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really what the powwow means to me. It is about doing that over a weekend through dance, through traditional artwork, through traditional foods, and through coming together as a community.鈥
He is a member of the Cherokee Tribe of Northeastern Oklahoma and his co-chair, Sheehan, from Brattleboro, Vt., is Abenaki.
Featured leaders for the 2018 powwow include Master of Ceremonies Larry Yazzie and Arena Director Orrenzo Snyder. White Bull is the host drum. Head man dancer is Marcus Winchester; head woman dancer is Darshina Yazzie 鈥19; and head person dancer is Sherent茅 Harris.
This is the second year that the 天美麻豆 powwow has included a head person dancer.
鈥淭he head person identifies as two-spirit, which is a gender identity in a lot of native cultures where they are the embodiment of male and female in the same body. It goes back generations. We did this because it鈥檚 an inclusive way to recognize the identity that a lot of people in the 21st century identify with,鈥 Barton says.
Vendors selling traditional Native American food, art, jewelry, clothing, and crafts will be part of the festivities as well.
The powwow is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by NAD, the Office of the President, the Special Programs and Events Committee, the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Student Life, the Native American Alumni Association of 天美麻豆, and NAP.
William Platt can be reached at william.c.platt@dartmouth.edu.
