More than 1,000 Native Americans, students and spectators from around the country gathered on the Green to celebrate Native American culture this weekend at the 23rd annual Pow-Wow.
Pow-Wow participants wearing fancy traditional dress mingled with students and Upper Valley residents clustered around the dance circle in the center of the Green.
Inside the circle were intertribal competitions of Native American dance and dance costumes. The dancing was judged in four categories: men's traditional/grass dance, men's fancy dance, women's traditional and woman's fancy shawl/jingle dress dance.
Six singing groups from around the country provided the music for the dancers. The music consisted of harmonized singing set to a pounding drum beat.
Pow-Wow Committee Chair Brooke Ammann '97, an Ojibway Tribe member from Wisconsin, said one of the highlights of the weekend for her was that her grandfather, an Ojibway religious leader, came from home to participate in the Pow-Wow.
"For us, it's important because it brings alumni, family, and friends together to have fun, dance and sing," she said.
This was the first year the Pow-Wow was held on the Green. In previous years, it was held at the Bema, but it was moved this year because of the anticipated large crowds.
Native Americans at Dartmouth President Ty Tengan '97 said the festivities were also extended from one to two days. "This year was the opening of the new Native American House and the 25th anniversary of the Native American program at Dartmouth," he said.
The Pow-Wow began Saturday at noon with a tribute to Vietnam veterans. Trudell Guerue '74, a Native American and a Vietnam veteran, presented an "eagle staff" to Native Americans at Dartmouth in honor of the 21 Dartmouth students and alumni who were killed in the Vietnam War.
The staff, about nine feet tall and adorned with 21 feathers, is sheathed in red felt and has 21 small purple heart ribbons. The top and bottom are covered with animal fur with a small American flag attached to the top.
Native American at Dartmouth President Ty Tengan '97, a Kanaka Maoli tribe member from Hawaii, said the honoring of the veterans was an important part of the Pow-Wow.
"The highlight for me is that we were given the eagle staff," he said. "There were a lot of people who disagreed [with the war], but there were people fighting and dying for our country."
In addition to the competition were honor songs and friendship dances. On Sunday afternoon to celebrate Mother's Day, many women took part in a friendship dance to honor mothers and daughters.
One special honor song was devoted to the seniors at Dartmouth and their transition into a different phase of their life.
"It honored the NAD seniors for what they've done for the program," Tengan said.
In addition to the dancing, about 18 to 20 craft booths lined both sides of Wentworth Street, with their owners selling a wide variety of Native American jewelry, music and woven baskets.Colorful shawls, rattles and collectibles were also for sale.
Dawn Dove, from the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island, sold jewelry, sweet grass and fancy dance shawls from a table on the street.
She said it was her first trip to the Dartmouth Pow-Wow and she brought her daughter up to dance in the competition and experience the event. "I'd like her to go to school here," she added.
