The College will formally dedicate the new Native American House this afternoon, kicking off a weekend of celebration for the College's Native American community.
More than 1,000 people are expected for the 23rd annual Pow-Wow, which will be held on the Green on Saturday and Sunday. The Pow-Wow brings together Native-American alumni and representatives from different tribes for an annual celebration of Native-American culture.
"When native people put on Pow-Wows, their main goal is to have good feelings," said John Sirois, acting director of the College's Native American Program. He described this weekend's Pow-Wow as a "native community celebration."
Sirois said the Pow-Wow is a confirmation of the fact that the Native American community is an "important aspect of Dartmouth College."
Acting College President James Wright said in a press release that Native American "students have become a tremendously important part of the Dartmouth community."
"We look forward to this opportunity to celebrate their presence here and their achievements," he said.
Wright is one of the speakers for the dedicate of the new Native American House at 3 p.m today. Author Michael Dorris, Dean of the College Lee Pelton, Sirois, Native American at Dartmouth President Ty Tengan '97 and a tribal elder will also speak at the ceremonies.
The Native American House, which is a residential facility for Native American students and students interested in Native American Studies, is located next to Alpha Theta coed fraternity on North Main Street. It opened this fall.
The Pow-Wow is free and starts at noon on both Saturday and Sunday. Tengan said this year marks the first time that the Pow-Wow will be held on the Green.
Previously, the Pow-Wow lasted for one day and was held on the Bema. Tengan said he hopes the Pow-Wow's move to the Green will allow "more people ... to come to it and be exposed to it."
There will a dance competition, drumming and arts and crafts on the Green, according to the release.
Tengan, who said this weekend will be "the biggest Pow-Wow we've ever had," said the event will feature more drumming groups, dancers and vendors than ever before.
Tengan said Sunday's Pow-Wow events be followed by a free community dinner on the Green at 6:30 p.m.
Pow-Wow weekend officially started this morning with the annual meeting of the Native American alumni visiting council, Tengan said.
The rain location for the Pow-Wow is Thompson Arena.
