Sounds of drum beats, prayers, songs, dances and storytelling, and the scent of American Indian foods spread throughout upper campus over the weekend as Cal State Long Beach hosted its 40th annual Pow Wow.
A time to refresh and preserve a rich heritage, the gathering brought many tribes together from all over the country, according to John Dawson of San Carlos Apache, the master of ceremonies. Some traveled from as far as Oklahoma and Florida.
The event started at 11 a.m. with Gourd dancing. The dance occurs when all tribes come together to dance for renewal.
“It’s important because it tells the origins through dance,” Dawson said. “We come from a culture of oral communication where history is told in stories, and dancing promotes the integrity and culture of the people.”
The Pow Wow is one of the largest events hosted by CSULB. According to the CSULB Web site, almost 100 American Indian tribes have been represented at the university. The campus was also built atop Puvungna, a sacred American Indian village.
Opal Holliday, a Southern California resident, said her favorite part of the Pow Wow is the dancing.
“Having some American Indian heritage, I love coming [to pow wows] and being exposed to different tribes — the knowledge they provide and interpreting all the dances,” she said.
Not only do spectators enjoy the dancing, but participants love it as well.
“This is my second time performing, and it’s fun because I get to do it with all my family and friends,” said Della Mendivil, a Rancho Cucamonga resident.
Mason Jamesburg agreed.
“I’ve done this for three years now, and I love it more each time,” he said. “This year I’m in the grass dance, which is when I stomp out the grass for everyone to dance in.”
Jamesburg said that although the colors on his regalia did not mean anything, “the yarn represents grass, and when I dance, it waves a lot like grass would in the wind. But you can tell what different tribes people are in by their moccasins.”
Along with dancing, singing and prayers, sold in clothing, jewelry, artwork, crafts and food.
Local resident Lydia Sim said, “I love jewelry with turquoise stones, and there’s so much of it here! I swear I spent all my money on jewelry and fry bread.”