The Clarion

Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Entertainment

Former MATC student Tim Fish participates in the MATC Powow olast April 25.

Powwows were once an annual tradition at MATC, and are now making a come back. On April 25 in the Gymnasium of the Truax campus, MATC held their first powwow since 2004. The many people who attended the event were treated to the food, art, crafts, traditional dress, music, and dancing of the Native American culture.

"Finances," is the reason Marty Richards, advisor to the Native American Student Association (NASA), gives for the five-year hiatus of MATC's powwow. In the past the event was funded by various fund-raisers of NASA, but fund-raisers alone didn't generate enough money. This year the event was funded, in part, by MATC's Office of Diversity & Community Relations, which is why MATC, once again, has an annual powwow.

Powwows are a gathering of Native people for the purposes of singing, dancing, visiting with friends and relatives, and making new friends - according to the Office of Diversity & Community Relations' event pamphlet. But, more importantly, it is a time to think of the old ways and to preserve a centuries-old heritage. However, powwows are not just for Native Americans anymore, everyone is encouraged to participate.

The purpose is "to educate about a culture that may not have been here anymore," says Karen Redfield, an English instructor at MATC, and one of the many event coordinators.

Traditionally the first thing done in a powwow is to honor the warriors. This is done in what is called the grand entry, which is a march around the drum area. This year's powwow honored Native American war veterans. The head veteran in this year's ceremony was Sergeant First Class Melissa Doud, a Lac Du Flambeau Ojibwe, and an 18-year Army veteran who fought in the Iraqi Freedom operation.

"Honoring the warriors is very important," says Richards, about the grand entry. "Native people have been sending people to war in this country before they had the right to vote."

Richards believes this honoring of the warriors is something that is important to do for the community during this time of war.

Redfield also believes in the importance of this particular powwow. Redfield concedes that most school run powwows are usually little more than "extra-curricular activities" for the students of the school. But, Redfield believes that MATC's powwow is different.

Continued...

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