Explore culture at Indian Arts Festival & Powwow

Explore culture at Indian Arts Festival & Spring Powwow

News contact: Laura Hancock | University Advancement
541-962-3585 | lhancock@eou.edu

Source contact: Shoshoni Walker | Rural & Native American Program
541-962-3588 | walkerss@eou.edu

May 8, 2014
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – The annual Indian Arts Festival Spring Powwow will be held Friday and Saturday, May 16-17 at Eastern Oregon University.

Grand Entries are at 6 p.m. Friday, and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday in the newly remodeled Quinn Coliseum. Admission is free.

A Friendship Feast, Speel-Ya Run and donation raffle are also part of the gathering. All activities are family-friendly and open to the public.

“The Indian Arts Festival Spring Powwow and Friendship Feast is a time for celebration with singing, dancing, eating, and arts and crafts,” said Shoshoni Walker with Rural and Native American Programs at EOU.

“It’s also a time for people of other ethnicities to explore Native American culture,” she added. “Learning and understanding other traditions allows for growth and deters prejudice. The dancing and drumming are so captivating…this is an event everyone should experience once in their lives.”

Events on Saturday kick-off with the half-marathon at 8 a.m. and 5K/10K run at 9 a.m. Registration is at 7:30 for the half-marathon and from 8-9 for the 5K/10K.

Runners should meet at the west end of Dorion Park on 6^th Street near the EOU tennis courts. The cost is $5 for students and $10 for adults. Winners receive a 2014 powwow T-shirt.

The Friendship Feast precedes the Grand Entry on Saturday evening, with food served in the Gilbert Center beginning at 5 p.m.

Arts and crafts vendors will be set up both days with a variety of wares including American Indian style flutes, and beaded and wire-wrapped jewelry.

In addition to the regular lineup of social and competitive dancing will be a Men’s Slick Style and Women’s Traditional along with a hand drum contest, offering opportunities for participants to earn extra cash prizes.

Serving as Host Drum this year is Red Hawk Canyon from Pendleton. Thomas Morning Owl is the Master of Ceremonies, representing the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Speel-Ya Native American Student Council, Associated Students of EOU, Eastern Promise, Wildhorse Foundation, Student Fee and Vending committees and many in-kind donations support the event.

For more information visit www.eou.edu/powwow or reach Walker at 541-962-3588 or walkerss@eou.edu.