Walking In Two Worlds
By Jarrette Werk
The Annual University of Nevada, Reno Powwow began with a beat of the drum as the floor filled for the grand entrance. Native American dancers began to transform from walking to spinning and dancing until the ground beneath them disappeared into a swirl of colorful bead work, feathers, and face paint.
“Powwows mean life, love, and energy,” said Alyssa Songoi, outgoing Miss University of Nevada, Reno Powwow princess. “When we wear our regalia we are wearing our feathers, and our feathers represent our ancestors. When we dance we bring the past alive.”
The Lawlor Event Center brimmed with people of all ages from tiny tots to elders. The powwow unifying Native Americans from across the nation in a celebration full of singing, dancing, and sharing of stories between all in attendance.
“The art that a powwow is, shows how we value our culture,” said Stormie Perdash, 2016 Miss Indian World contestant and undergraduate student at the University of Oklahoma. “As powwow dancers, it’s a way to show our culture, through expression of dance.”
Both Perdash and Songoi have been dancing and attending powwows since they could walk. Growing up on the powwow trail showed both how truly important culture is to one’s identity.
Dancers take this time to bring new and old traditions together. To preserve what is most important to them. It’s important because we don’t want that to die, we don’t want to become the history, stated Songoi.
“Powwows always teach you respect,” said Perdash. “Whether it’s respect for the drum, for the other dancers, and even for yourself. Just looking at all the different bead work and designs and thinking about how much time and energy goes into making them, shows you how much we respect and love our culture.”
Having the ability and opportunity to hold powwows on campus’s like the University of Nevada, Reno means more to Native people than most might think, said Michelle McCauley, University of Nevada, Reno alumni and music teacher at Lemelson S.T.E.M. Academy.
When McCauley attended the University of Nevada, Reno in 2005 there was no annual powwow, she took it upon herself to organize, plan, and execute the first powwow on University of Nevada, Reno campus in 2006.
The powwow shows students a Native American presence on campus, and allows others to attend, and ultimately, to attract more native students to the University of Nevada, Reno campus, stated McCauley.
“Its spreads awareness because most people don’t know Native Americans still exists,” said Perdash. “Even if one nonnative person comes to a powwow or other cultural event it spreads awareness and shows people we are still here.”
Native Americans make up two percent of the American population, according to the 2013 United States Census Bureau. Statistically speaking, a person is more likely to know someone who has been struck by lightning than a Native American.
“Powwows are a way for us to celebrate our culture and a way to keep the culture alive,” said Songoi. “It’s our way for elders to teach our youth our traditions and to continue the culture that was almost lost.”
“My main take away from life is no matter how far you get from home, whether that be the reservation or an urban setting, you always remember where you came from,”said Perdash. “Your culture stays with you no matter where you go, because your culture is who you are.”
My platform for Miss Indian World is education, it’s not only important to know your culture but it is also important to know how the world works too, stated Perdash.
McCauley, Perdash, and Songoi all value knowledge. Traditional knowledge as well as educational knowledge is very important to them, to who they are as people.
“Having your culture and your education is very important, it is a part of your identity,” said McCauley. “What I do now, as a teacher, is make new traditions. I’m not learning my culture anymore, I am being it. I'm walking in two worlds.”