Native American Student Association holds 'Night of Tradition' performances
Mohamed Ali
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: News
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The mix of ages, genders and styles lasted two hours and persisted despite a few microphone difficulties.
Organized by the Native American Student Association, the event included hip-hop and Latin dance, but the emphasis was mainly on Native American culture. The front of the Multicultural Center had a tipi, which students could enter.
The Pokanoket tribe opened the event with a Nuptuan or tobacco prayer, it was offered in both English and the Pokanoket language.
"Tobacco is very important to Native Americans; it is used for prayer purposes and this one is in honor of the creator, for his daily gifts and getting us through winter," he said.
Several Native American dance types were presented to the audience with the dancers, male and female, in Native American garb. The women performed the Eastern Blanket dance, one old and one young woman moved forward in slow steps with large shawls to the beat of a drum and the human voice. The tribal elder clarified that this was not a "spectator sport," but a dance to show their pride.
The men performed the Eastern War dance in traditional leggings, shirts and feathered headdresses. This dance is from the New England area and represents the hunters who protect the people of the tribe.
Two younger women performed another variation of the blanket dance in multicolored outfits with large shawls; they had quick steps and spins as they moved in circles. Traditionally, the young women leave their shawls at the feet of the man they wish to marry. The dance follows the growth of a woman, as the song progresses, the girls lift the shawls outwards to represent newfound confidence and eventually the shawl is to be wrapped around the husband and children completing the growth of a woman.
The medicine man in training, John Brown stressed the fact that the Native Americans have been here and will continue to live on these lands.
The powwow or Native American dance includes opportunities for everyone to join in.
In order to mix up the event culturally other student groups performed, including Alima (modern dance number), Prolifikk (hip hop dance), Exposure (Latin dance) and LASA (Latin American Student Association).
"I thought it was awesome, we couldn't say who we were when we were here, and the young people will carry on, and I hope this event becomes bigger and bigger," said Henry Hawk Edmonds, an elder member of the Pokanoket tribe.
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