Powwow to celebrate history

American Indian crafts and “gourd dancing” will be a part of the second annual powwow to celebrate National American Indian Heritage Month.

The powwow is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Union Street Center.

The event is organized by the Native American Graduate Students Association, First Nations Educational and Cultural Center  and IU Student Association.

The grand entry will represent tribes throughout the United States and the powwow will feature performances by singers and drummers from various American Indian tribes.

A free traditional Native American meal is scheduled to be served at noon
Saturday.

According to a press release, the host drummers will be Brave Heart from Pine Ridge, S.D., and Sauk Nation from Meskwaki, Iowa, and Oklahoma.

Terry Fidler, a Lakota from Red Wing, Minn., will emcee the event. Cheryl McClellan, a member of the Sac and Fox nation, and Gilbert Brown, a member of the Meskwaki Nation, will be the head dancers.

“They present a level of solidarity among the multi-tribal populations who have disparate political and social agendas,” Brian Gilley, director of the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center at IU, said in a press release. “It becomes a meeting point for all of those different cultures.”

Other events are scheduled throughout November to celebrate the National American Indiana Heritage Month.

Walter Echo-Hawk, a Pawnee Nation member, author and attorney will speak Wednesday as part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Themester 2012.

—Matt Stefanski