TOPPENISH, Wash.- For the first time in five years, Native American dancers and drummers returned to Heritage University to celebrate their culture.
The free event was put together by the Heritage University Native American Club (HUNAC) and American Indigenous Business Leaders Chapter. Kansas Arnoux of HUNAC says she started at HU in 2022, after the powwow was put on pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the goal of bringing the community together, Arnoux and HUNAC opted to take money out of the equation and eliminate competition.
“I feel like that’s a very colonizing way of “Who’s the better dancers are,” says Arnoux. “The drumbeat is the heart of the Earth. I don’t like it to be a competition.”
The All Nations Student Social Powwow name means exactly that.
The Powwow may have had heavy influence from the Yakama Nation, but students and community members from every nation were welcomed.
“I hope this opens up to where we’re not so divided on our campus,” says HUNAC member Tamara James. “Hopefully, it will be an eye opener of all of us being as one, not just divided.”
HUNAC says that students on campus asked them all week if they were welcomed. The emphasis of the event was to celebrate heritage with everyone, even if they don’t have a Native American heritage.
“I just hope like even on this campus can break that cultural divide,” says Lillie Weslie with HUNAC. “We’re all here together we’ll all learn and do a cultural exchange.”
As cultural dancers were decked out in regalia, it’s a show of every nation’s and person’s background.
“We want to show you each our own uniqueness and our own dances, our own regalia,” says Arnoux. “Everyone has their own vision behind their regalia and their dances that they carry out.”
After the work done by HUNAC for this powwow, Heritage University is hopeful to bring it back in future events as a regular event.
