If you walk into the Union Ballroom on April 8, you will see dancers moving to the music of drums and telling stories through song. This is the U’s annually held Powwow.
The Sustaining Our Culture Inter-Tribal Powwow runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. that Friday and continues the next day from noon to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., said Hailee Roberts, a freshman in exercise and sports science and a member of the Inter-Tribal Student Association. The event is free to the public.
The Powwow kicks off with the grand entry of the head staff, including the master of ceremonies, arena director, head man, head woman, head boy and head girl (the latter two are new additions to this year’s ceremony). Tribal members from all over the state and surrounding areas will participate in various dance and song competitions.
Orville Cayaditto, a Navajo and senior in political science and ethnic studies, loves having people from the community come and learn about a culture that is prevalent in the area.
“They realize and take in Utah’s native heritage,” he said. “A lot of the times this history is ignored in the classrooms and in the textbooks, so this can be a moment where you can take in and appreciate the native peoples.”
In the past, about 1,000 people have attended the Powwow and Cayaditto, president of the Inter-Tribal Student Association, is expecting the same amount of attendees this year. The event costs around $20,000 to put on and is sponsored by various U departments and local Native American groups.
The Inter-tribal Powwow began originally as a healing process for the mind and soul, Roberts said. Roberts, who is a member of the Navajo tribe, said every traditional dance and song has a meaning to it that helps keep their culture alive.
“It is a really great feeling — it lifts your spirits,” she said. “We dance for our ancestors. Some people will dance to be connected with their culture and reconnected with their past. It’s a really powerful moment for us to be honored to dance and honored to wear the colors and the outfits that we have.”
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