Two dancers have a laugh before the traditional dance circle commences at ASU’s Pow Wow event on the Tempe campus. The Pow Wow, which occurred adjacent to Sun Angel stadium, featured over a dozen tribes from across the country. Click on the photo to view a slideshow of the event. (Photo by Dominic Valente)
American Indian dancers and drummers from across the U.S. and Canada gathered to participate in ASU Pow Wow, a three-day dance and music competition held at the ASU Band Practice Field.
The event, which was held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, creates unity between members of tribes across Arizona, the U.S. and surrounding countries through dance, said criminal justice and criminology sophomore Taylor Harvey.
"It's a way for American Indian people from all over the country to do the one thing that brings us together, which is dancing," she said.
Harvey, who was selected as Ms. Indian ASU First Attendant, said she and Ms. Indian ASU, Shaandiin Parrish, decided to attend ASU Pow Wow because of their responsibility to represent the University. The two were selected in the Ms. Indian ASU Pageant two weeks ago.
"When (Parrish) and I won, we decided to come and take our first steps into the pool we are going to be jumping into later," Harvey said.
ASU Pow Wow provides an opportunity for participants of all ages to compete in a variety of competitions, including drumming and different styles of dancing, said Lee Williams, who has coordinated the event since 1992.
The three-day event attracted approximately 400 dancers from tribes as far away as British Columbia, Canada.
The dancers participated in competitions in several different dance styles as well as the Grand Entry on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which gave all participants an opportunity to dance together.
During the Grand Entry dance, the incredibly bright costumes of the participants, the rhythmic pounding of the drums, soft tinkle of bells on the costumes and energy of the dancers created an atmosphere unique to a Pow Wow.
The event serves as the culmination of American Indian Culture Week, which is organized and funded by ASU's American Indian Council, Williams said.
"(Pow Wow) is part of the American Indian Cultural Week activities," Williams said. "It promotes cultural diversity and awareness on campus."
ASU held its first Pow Wow event in 1986 and is now in its 27th year. Williams said the event was originally started by the Native American Student Association, because there was a need for a large cultural activity on campus.
Chemistry senior Lynette Lewis worked as a volunteer at the ASU Pow Wow with several of her sorority sisters from Alpha Pi Omega. Lewis said the event gives Alpha Pi Omega the opportunity to work with its community.
"We are a community-based organization," Lewis said. "We like to do a lot of volunteer work with the community. We like to give back to our community."
Family and human development sophomore Leara Thompson, also a member of Alpha Pi Omega, said she enjoys attending Pow Wow to see the different dances.
"I like going to Pow Wow and seeing dancers from all over the place," she said.
Thompson said Pow Wow is an important event for the American Indian community and many groups and individuals work hard to make it a success.
"The whole ASU native community likes to come (to Pow Wow) and volunteer," she said.
View a slideshow of the event here.
Reach the reporter at sgslade@asu.edu or follow her @shelbygslade
