NC State held its 33rd annual Powwow Saturday to celebrate Indigenous culture through performances and Native business vendors.
Powwows are traditional Native American gatherings that celebrate the richness of Indigenous culture through dance, food, song, craft and gathering.
The theme for this year’s Powwow was “Power in Acknowledgement” due to the land acknowledgment statement from NC State this past October, addressing that its land, along with much of the surrounding Raleigh area, resides on Indigenous land and recognized that impact on Indigenous communities.
Lee Chavis-Tartagila, a third-year studying history and anthropology and vice president and head of the Powwow committee of the Native American Student Association, said the land acknowledgment statement has had a huge impact on Native students at NC State.
“The land acknowledgment is an amazing step in the right direction,” Chavis-Tartagila said. “It’s good because it has the University acknowledge that we are still here. We didn’t just up and leave.”
Within the Native community, there is a lot of diversity because of tribal differences. Eight different state-recognized tribes were represented at the Powwow, each with a distinct culture.
“We just try to be respectful and mindful of where people are coming from and what identities they hold and try to respect those and acknowledge them,” said Chavis-Tartagila. “Your tribe is part of your identity.”
Nathan Campbell, a fourth-year studying computer science and one of the performers of the men’s fancy dance, said these differences were visible in his dance.
“Every tribe does everything a little different, especially up here where we are such an urban Native environment,” Campbell said. “I am part of the Waccamaw Siouan and Lumbee tribes, so I showed my tribe and how I celebrate my culture. There’s a boy from Apache out there who dances a little bit different from us, but we all dance in the same arena because we are all one people.”
These dances hold an important role in the Native community because they are a part of storytelling.
“Everyone in the arena is telling their own story; they are telling who they are, where they come from and what they’ve experienced,” Campbell said. “I think it is a really cool way to express your culture not by words, but show.”
There were different types of dance represented at the Powwow. Men performed grass, traditional and fancy while women performed jingle, fancy and traditional. Within these types of dance, there are specifications such as northern and southern or old and new styles.
The vendors at the event also contributed to the diverse atmosphere of the Powwow by displaying handmade crafts such as bags, dream catchers and hand-beaded jewelry. The variety of wares from different parts of North Carolina showed many sides to a diverse group of people.
This year’s Powwow saw a significant turnout and was meaningful for representation of the University’s Native American community.
“We want to bring the culture to the Pack,” Chavis-Tartagila said.
NC State hosts Powwows annually every spring. More information about Native American culture and events can be found through Multicultural Student Affairs or the Native American Student Association.
