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NEWS
| April 22
A Significant Gathering
The American Indian powwow is
a tradition that celebrates life, a participant says.
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| The Shorthorn: Brandon Wade |
| D.M. Red Eagle, 75, from the Lakota
tribe, dances to an inner tribal song played during a
powwow Saturday afternoon in the University Center Bluebonnet
Ballroom organized by the Native American Student Association. |
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By Caren
M. Penland
Contributor to The Shorthorn
Dressed in yellow ochre leather leggings,
a feather bustle strapped to his back and feathers in his hair,
Richard Yellowbow danced slowly to the beat of the Northern drum.
He followed dozens of other descendants of American Indians in a
circle around the drummers, partaking in an honor dance to celebrate
the Native American Student Association’s powwow held Saturday
in the University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom.
The powwow tradition began in Oklahoma in 1877 and is used to celebrate
song, dance, culture and spirituality, Yellowbow said. He added
that the tradition is a celebration of life and pride and that it
can be celebrated year-round. The visitor, invited by the association,
said he is descendent of the Nez Percé tribe and is worried
his ancestor’s traditions will be lost.
“I spend my time learning the old ceremonies. We’re losing
the culture fast because all the elders are going over to the other
side,” he said. “I’m going to spend the rest of my
life learning those ceremonies so I can pass them along.”
For nearly eight hours, drums beat and elders chanted traditional
songs, some of them hundreds of years old. Yellowbow said none of
the songs are recorded in print, causing part of the problem of
the disappearing tribal culture. The drummers and singers spend
years studying with elders, he said.
Men, women and children of all ages danced the slow step of the
honor dances, sometimes carrying a blanket to collect money for
the association. People attending wore varying degrees of Indian
dress — some elaborately designed and hand-crafted, others
more of a modern Southwestern motif.
History junior Angela Reagan, an association member, said it’s
important to conduct such ceremonies.
“I’m very proud of my heritage,” she said. “It’s
very important to share that culture and keep it alive. That’s
why so many of us are here, that’s why I dance — to remember
my ancestors.”
She sat at one of the many merchants’ booths and ate an Indian
taco. Around her, children with bells ran through the crowd to join
the dancers.
Eugene Brown, the association’s elder, announced raffle winners
and handed out flutes and other prizes.
He explained that the event was not just a way to remember the past
but a way to share with others who understand and those curious
to learn.
“In the early days of the formation of this country, the natives’
heritage was deliberately eradicated,” he said. “A lot
of tribes were forbidden to speak their languages, practice their
religions or ancient medicine practices.”
He said there are people who travel far to be able to participate
in a powwow; some at the event came from all over the country.
Most come to share what they know and to take home what they don’t,
he said.
“There’s no way to say how much culture was lost,”
he said. “Some tribes have very little of their original cultures
left, but what they do have is their pride that they were able to
retain at least that much.”
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