Organizer: ‘It’s important we create opportunities to recognize all of our relatives’
By Debora Gordon for Ashland.news
The 32nd annual powwow organized by the Native American Student Union (NASU) Saturday and Sunday in Lithia Motors Pavilion at Southern Oregon University celebrated Native American culture through music, dance, art, food and more.
The powwow featured team and individual dances, from children to boys and girls to teens and adults, as well as many traditional items for sale made by the local community members.
“The purpose of a powwow is to honor the traditions that have been on this land for time immemorial and bring that culture to campus at this university and to honor that — the people of this land,” said Demetrius Davis-Boucher, an NASU co-chair. Latino, Samoan, and Hawaiian communities were also honored in this event, and the focus of the culture was expanded intersectionality.
“There is a focus on honoring our Indigenous relatives and so those who are summoned are who are Native Hawaiian, as well the Latino Student Union, because much of Mexico is indigenous to North America as well. And they are our brothers and sisters, our relatives, and that’s why we include them in our powwow because our powwow is an intertribal powwow. And it allows for all of us to convene together.”
Davis-Boucher is a senior studying business and digital cinema.
“I’m a reconnecting descendant of the Cherokee Nation Eastern Band on my father’s side,” he said. Transferring from Portland Community College, “I knew that Southern Oregon was rich with the Native American culture. There was a club involvement fair I had to join, rediscover and reconnect.
“This is my second SOU powwow. Last fall on our Native American Student Union had the privilege of going to the Siletz Restoration Pow-Wow in Lincoln City on the North Oregon coast. One thing that our Native Nations liaison, Kenwani (Kenwanicahee Kravitz) has reassured us, (is) that there is a Supreme Court ruling that Native American people are a political status and that gives us, like, more protection on this whole attack against DEI.”
Among those who joined in were the Latino Student Union, The Samoan Club and The Hawai`i Club Ho`Opa`A which, Davis-Boucher noted, “come together to make sure that the powwow is a huge success, because our powwow is the largest student-led event on campus every year. A powwow is a place where Native people and our neighbors are welcome to come in and just witness, bringing to life of the culture, dances, the art, the drumming, the music, and it’s our way of, like, reconnecting to the earth and through community, as well.
“We wanted to include our other multicultural clubs on campus because many of us identify ourselves as Indigenous people from what is now called America — Mexico, Hawaii, American Samoa, and more. Many of us don’t recognize the labels, borders and boundaries that separate us and have been placed upon us. We see each other as relatives. And it’s important we create opportunities to recognize all of our relatives.”
“I grew up in our culture and come from a long line of resilient Native people,” said Aiyanna Brown, NASU Co-Chair. “My connection to my heritage and culture is strong. I grew up going to powwows as a kid, so I have been able to experience many powwows.”
“This is my third year coming to a SOU NASU powwow and my second year planning it,” said Brown, who is Hanis Coos, Komemma Kalapuya, and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. “We have gotten a lot of support this year from people and groups on campus, from student volunteers to professors and administrators helping us any way they can. We have also gotten a lot of support from our community businesses and organizations. Some are new relationships NASU is creating and others are reoccurring from past years.”
Brittany Hardy, who teaches at Ashland Middle School and advises the Native American Student Union with about 15 to 20 Native American students throughout the year, said, “Our big project this year was screen printing these T-shirts and sweatshirts. For Orange Shirt Day we started to raise awareness for kids who died in boarding schools. We do events for Native American Heritage Month in November.”
Teresa Cisneros, the facilitator with the Southern Oregon Education Service District Indian Network, which offers services to students in Jackson and Josephine counties, said, “We primarily offer ‘cultural programming’ twice a month … All of our families come together and we eat and we have different programs for the students and the families, anything from learning how to feed, to regalia and storytelling. We have a rich community with cultural knowledge and so they often will come and present at this powwow…”
Stephen Pearce, a powwow participant with Apache tribal affiliation, has been part of the powwow about 15 years, as well as the veterans’ powwow in June, said, “I danced in traditional dress, as a warrior, and I consider myself a warrior; I take care and provide for my family.”
David West, director emeritus for Native American Studies and Native American Programs at SOU, emphasized the role of the powwow as “revitalizing cultural rights, and language restoration programs, as well as wellness and sobriety movements for their community and for their people.”
Debora Gordon is a writer, artist, educator and non-violence activist who moved to Ashland from Oakland, California. Email her at debora.ashlandnews@gmail.com.
April 15: Removed erroneous statement regarding Demetrius Davis-Boucher’s tribal affiliation.
