People of all ages packed the Bema's natural amphitheater Saturday for the 21st annual Native American pow-wow at the College. In the warm hazy sunshine, some perched on the Bema's rocky outcrops to watch exhibition and competitive Native American traditional and fancy dancing. Others shopped at trading booths carrying Native American-made jewelry, skins and other items.
Monica King attended the pow-wow for the third year in a row. Dressed in a light-colored buckskin, she danced energetically to the rhythm of 400 year old songs drummed out by the Grey Horse Singers of Tulsa, Okla.
"I really like the dancing and the pageantry, particularly the children. The pageantry is really magnificent," King said.
Rick Robertson and his family from Willsborough, N.Y. attended their first Dartmouth pow-wow by happenstance. Hanover was the half way point on a road trip, and they came upon the pow wow by accident. The entire family was impressed with the day.
"We've been to other pow-wows. Everyone was more accepted here ... it seemed to have a lot of unity," Robertson said.
Jonodev Chaudhuri '93, a member of Native Americans at Dartmouth, the College's Native American students' organization, said, "The best aspect is the sense of sharing and community interaction ... It's designed for all people as a sharing celebration of each other."
Ezra Fields, an Oklahoma Pawnee, sold his handmade jewelry for the ninth straight year. "Everyone receives us so well. It's such a friendly little pow-wow," he said.
RedCloud Anquoe, one of the Grey Horse drummers said the College's reception was warm.
"Everyone's really laid back. I like the way the College took care of us. They flew us out and put us in the Hanover Inn. They told us to eat anything we wanted."
Each year the pow-wow draws dancers, traders and drummers from across the country. Kevin Keene, a New Hampshire resident, has been attracted to the Dartmouth pow-wow for the past three years because of the western drums.
"These are usually the best drums you get to hear in New England," he said.
Anquoe said he recognized the popularity of his family's drumming.
"We're like superstars. We could be Metallica or Van Halen ...When there's a pow-wow with the best drums, you're going to have a good time" Anquoe said.
One of the most popular sets of dances was performed by two men from Mexico who performed traditional Aztec dances. The dancers wore ceremonial dress with elaborate headdresses and belled boots. In a dance in honor of the flame, one dancer held his feet, thigh and hand in a small fire, drawing "ooohs" from an captivated crowd, while the other beat out a rhythm on a tall, red, orange and yellow drum.
To many Native American students at the College, the pow-wow was also a day of healing following the controversy surrounding the College's recently-ended clay pipes tradition.
NAD presented Dean of Students Lee Pelton with a blanket, and performed an honor dance to show its appreciation for his forming a committee to examine the pipes tradition. NAD also honored Colleen Larimore, Native American Program director.
"This pow-wow was especially healing...it symbolized the end to institutionally sanctioned sacrilege," King said.
NAD and the Native American Program help fund and organize the event every year.
