Annual arts festival and powwow

Indian Arts Festival, Powwow and Friendship Feast set for May 19-20

Contact: Bennie Moses, Multicultural Center Director, 541-962-3094

LA GRANDE, Ore. May 9, 2017 – The annual Indian Arts Festival and Spring Powwow at Eastern Oregon University marks its 47^th year this May.

Three Grand Entries are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, May 19, and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20 in Quinn Coliseum. A traditional Friendship Feast precedes Saturday evening’s Grand Entry, with food served in the auxiliary gym in Quinn beginning at 5 p.m.

“This is one of the biggest diversity events on campus and we welcome the university community and visitors to the powwow,” said Linda Reed-Jerofke, faculty advisor to the Speel-Ya Native American Student Council at EOU.

Arts and crafts vendors, a wellness event and a donation raffle are also part of the gathering. Vendors will open both Friday and Saturday with a variety of wares including American Indian style flutes, and beaded and wire-wrapped jewelry.

This year’s Host Drum is the Cayuse Singers from Mission, Ore. Thomas Morning Owl and Fred Hill are the masters of ceremonies representing the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

“We extend a warm welcome to all of our visitors and hope everyone will experience the powwow as a joyous occasion,” said Leah Harris, EOU student and Speel-Ya president.

In addition to the regular lineup of social and competitive dancing will be Men’s Slick Style, Women’s Short Fringe and Traditional. There is no dancer fee.

Speel-Ya, the Associated Students of EOU, the EOU Foundation, Diversity Committee, Wildhorse Resort and Casino, and many in-kind donations support this event.

Activities are all family-friendly, free and open to the public. For more information or to register as a vendor visit www.eou.edu/powwow, call 541-962-3741 or email mccenter@eou.edu.