UCLA continues tradition at 13th-annual pow-wow
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 3, 1998 9:00 p.m.
Monday, May 4, 1998
UCLA continues tradition at 13th-annual pow-wow
EVENT: Community outreach booths, tribal dancers, food stands
highlight weekend at Intramural Field
By Barbara Ortutay
Daily Bruin Contributor
Dancer Jim Redeagle explained the importance of the eagle
feathers on his Northern Plains traditional costume.
"The feathers are like your own hair," he said, "The eagle is
very important to our culture. We honor our relatives with it, and
it carries the spirit of the dead."
Jim Redeagle was just one of 200 dancers who performed Native
American dances at the 13th annual UCLA Pow-Wow this weekend. The
Pow-Wow, organized by the American Indian Students Association
(AISA), attracted many people, despite the somewhat schizophrenic
weather that wavered between sunny and rainy throughout the
weekend.
"The purpose of the pow-wow is to carry on tradition and bring
together different cultures," said Natalie Stites, AISA
president.
The pow-wow took place over the weekend on the Intramural Field.
Surrounded by a lineup of jewelry vendors, food stands and
community outreach booths, spectators could watch, and, upon
invitation, participate in the inter-tribal dances.
The dancers, some of whom came from out of state and even out of
the country, competed in various categories of traditional dance.
Ceremonial dances, such as the gourd dance of Southern Plains
warriors, were not judged.
"People come from all over – Arizona, a lot from Oklahoma, South
Dakota, Ontario and Maine," said Elissa Fleak, pow-wow
director.
The elaborate costumes of the dancers left a lasting impression
on first-year student Melanie Campbell.
"I’m impressed by the costumes, they are beautiful. I was just
sitting there watching them," Campbell said.
Today, the number of American Indians who continue to uphold
tradition is shrinking.
According to an AISA pamphlet, the tribe that populated the
greater Los Angeles basin area was once "one of the most prosperous
and generous Native American tribes in Southern California."
Today, the Gabrielino/Tongva tribe consists of about 1,500 to
3,000 people, only 250 of whom are active in tribal matters.
In addition to celebrating tradition, the pow-wow also hosted
various community organizations concerned with American Indian
issues, such as the American Indian Child and Family Services, and
First Americas in the Arts.
The L.A. American Indian Health Project provides medical
services and referrals for children and adults. Volunteers said
they got a positive response from people at the pow-wow.
A representative from UC Berkeley came to the event to attract
more American Indian applicants.
"Native Americans are the lowest number minority on campus," he
said.
At UCLA, less than 1 percent of the student body is American
Indian. To help retain students and increase the number of
applicants, AISA plans to submit an admission criteria
proposal.
