Native American Dancers and Drum Groups to Perform at Gym

By Rena Bjerke · The Mainstream
Published March 7, 2012

The South Umpqua Native American Cultural Education Committee is holding their 33rd annual Pow Wow on April 28 and 29 in the UCC gym.

This is the longest running Pow Wow on the I-5 corridor and is open to everyone, including non- Native American people.

Traditional dancers and drum groups will be at the celebration, as well as craft vendors selling native crafts.

The event opens with grand entries at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday that will include traditional dancing, drum beats and singing.

A special grand entry will be performed just for children on Saturday at 1 p.m. Children and adults are welcome to join in the dancing whether they are wearing traditional Native American outfits or modern day street clothes. 

Admission is free and doors open at noon both days.

The South Umpqua Native American Cultural Education Committee’s goal is to teach their culture to anyone who wants to learn.

 Organizing the annual Pow Wow is one of the ways that the committee exposes the public to the Native American culture.

 The president of the committee, Doug Mountain Bear Stack, is happy to share the culture with others and encourages people to learn as much as they can.  

“It’s a lot of fun to go to a Pow Wow, and it is a great way to learn about Native American cultures,” said Stack.

The Umpqua region river basin has been home to more than one tribe. At least four tribal groups historically lived in the area: the Southern Molalla, the Lower Umpqua tribe (also known as the Kalawatset), the Upper Umpqua tribe and the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua tribe of Indians.

Several different tribes and non-Native American people alike are traveling from as far south  as Southern California and as far north as Washington State to participate in this year’s Pow Wow.

For more information or to get involved in a future Pow Wow, contact Doug Mountain Bear Stack at 541-863-0967 or sunacec@hotmail.com.