October 31, 2005
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Kyle Chilton
(801) 863-8504
UVSC to Host Native American Conference and Powwow
Utah Valley State College Multi-cultural Center and the Native Sun Club will host the Native American Conference and a Powwow November 11 and 12.
The Native American Conference gives Native American high school juniors and seniors from Utah the opportunity to learn more about their cultural heritage as well as the educational opportunities available at UVSC. The conference will feature an educational workshop and three cultural workshops given by Terry Goedel, Elaine Heperi and Les Seckletstewa.
Goedel, the current Master’s World Champion Yakima Indian hoop dancer, will give a workshop on how to hoop dance and its cultural significance. Heperi will focus on the contributions of Iroquois Indians to current American culture. Seckletstewa, a carver, will demonstrate how he makes kachina dolls and their cultural significance. The workshops will be open to the public and begin at 9 a.m. in the Student Center Grande Ballroom and rooms 206a, b and c.
“We want to let Native American students know the opportunities available to them at UVSC,” said Ken Sekaquaptewa, UVSC Native American specialist. “We want them to know we offer a great variety of degrees and financial aid to help them achieve their educational goals.”
On Saturday, the public is invited to attend the Powwow, a Native American dance competition, at 11 a.m. in the Student Center Grande Ballroom, sponsored by the UVSC Native Sun Club, Inter-club Council and the Multi-cultural Center. All the competitors will come together for grand entries at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. in full regalia behind the color guard and the spiritual leader, who will bless the arena in preparation for the competition. The Powwow will also include a drum competition, with teams playing traditional Native American drum music. There will be several vendors selling native arts and crafts and the Native Sun and Polynesian clubs will sell traditional foods. DaLyn Erickson, a wildlife specialist at the Ogden Nature Center, will display a live eagle and a red tail hawk.
“We feel it’s important for our school to partner with the community on educational and cultural opportunities because there is a very strong Native American community in Utah County,” Sekaquaptewa said. “We want to provide an opportunity for them to share their culture and for the community to learn about diversity.”
Entry is $5 for adults and $4 for students with ID. Those over 65 and under five-years old are free. For more information, contact the Multi-cultural Center at (801) 863-8357.
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