45th annual Pow Wow preserves spring dancing tradition
USU’s Native American Student Council hosted its 45th annual Pow Wow, “Echoing Traditional Ways,” this weekend.
Traditionally, Pow Wow’s were held in the spring to celebrate the new beginning of life, honoring warriors, personal achievements and ceremonies for dropped eagle feathers, according to the Access & Diversity Center website.
The Pow Wow begins with the grand entry, everyone stands as the flags are brought into the arena by veterans followed by elders, princesses and powwow organizers.
The dancers compete in different age sets: Golden Age, adult, teens, juniors and tiny tots.
Celena Powaukee, age 22, is from Fort Duchesne, Utah and said she got into dancing because of her dad.
“My whole family dances. But my dad, he really, really loves to dance,” she said.
Powaukee competed in the women’s traditional dance.
“I dance for those who can’st,” she said. “The elders in the tribes, I see them and I know that is why I’m dancing.”
The different dance categories are: men’s traditional, grass and fancy dance, women’s traditional, jingle and fancy shawl dance.
Kyle Todecheene USU Native American Student Council hosts their 45 annual Pow-Wow at the Nelson Fieldhouse over Saint Patricks Day weekend. (Kyle Todecheene)
Lilliam Eaglespeaker, 15, from Blackfoot Idaho and has been dancing for 13 years. This weekend Eaglespeaker said she competed in the women’s jingle dance, she started off dancing in the fancy category but switched to jingle because of her mom.
“I loved to watch her dance and I knew I wanted to do it just like her,” Eaglespeaker said.
Other special dances include the men’s switch dance by the NASC committee, the women’s switch dance hosted by USU Center of Women and Gender, the head man special by men’s northern traditional and the head women special by the tiny tots.
Nathaniel Oxendine, 19, is from Fort Duchesne, Utah and said he dances because of his parents.
“I want to honor them,” he said.
The Pow-Wow preserves a deep, lasting sense of family, pride and tradition. Behind the display of dance, music and vibrant regalia are sacred legends and meanings, according to the USU Access & Diversity website.
USU Native American Student Council hosts their 45 annual Pow-Wow at the Nelson Fieldhouse over Saint Patricks Day weekend. (Kyle Todecheene)
“I love seeing my family from all around the country, it feels good to be around so many people that I love,” Oxendine said.
Even those who didn’t participate in the Pow Wow were in attendance.
Parker Moyes, 23 from Brigham City, Utah said the atmosphere made him wish he grew up with stronger traditions.
“The costumes are just so amazing, so intricate,” he said.
The Pow Wow ran for two days at the USU Nelson Field House.
“The feeling in this room is great, so full of love,” Powaukee said. “I just love being around my family.”
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