California State University Long Beach’s 50th annual Powwow— the largest American Indian social celebration of its kind in Southern California — is set to return to the campus’ upper quad for two days of dancing, arts, crafts and food on Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12 after a three-year hiatus.
The event, which is also called the CSU Puvungna Pow Wow in honor of a native village that was originally located on CSULB land, is sponsored the American Indian Studies Program, American Indian Student Services, American Indian Student Council, Student Affairs, Student Life and Development, and Associated Students, Inc.
When the university’s powwow was started by students and their families in 1969, it was a one-day affair — but 50 years later, its evolved into a multi-day celebration traditions from different Indigenous cultures.
“The purpose,” Anna Nazarian-Peters, interim director of student life and development and coordinator of American Indian Student Services said in the announcement, “is to show other Native American students that there is a Native American community on campus.”
Powwow participants, over the weekend, will engage in traditional dancing, singing and drumming — while donning regalia representative of their specific tribal and cultural backgrounds, the announcement said.
Native artwork and crafts, both contemporary and traditional, alongside food — including fry bread, Navajo tacos, mutton, beef stew and Indian burgers — will be on display and on sale at the powwow.
The schedule of events, all of which will take place on CSULB’s Upper Campus Quad, is as follows:
Saturday, March 11
11 a.m.: Gourd Dancing
1 p.m.: Grand Entry
2 p.m.: Dancer Registration Closes
4 p.m.: American Indian Student Council (Pow Wow Committee) Special
5 to 6 p.m.: Dinner Break, California Indian Presentation
10 p.m.: Retire Colors and dance out
Sunday, March 12
11 a.m.: Gourd Dancing
1 p.m.: Grand Entry
6 p.m.: Retire Colors and dance out
All dancers and drums are invited to participate, the announcement said. Registration closes 2 p.m. on Saturday.
More information is available on CSULB’s website.