New Faces of an Ancient People
The Pennsylvania State University and the State College Area School District are hosting the 9th Annual "New Faces of an Ancient People Traditional American Indian Powwow" Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, 2012, at the Mount Nittany Middle School. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
The American Indian traditional Powwow is a contemporary social gathering and celebration of community featuring American Indian drum music and songs, Native American dance, and Native American foods, as well as American Indian vendors showing and selling their arts and crafts. This powwow is recognized as one of the finest family friendly events available in the State College Area.
Last year the Powwow had over 160 Native Dancers visit from as far as New Mexico, Canada, South Dakota and other American Indian Communities. In addition over 5000 people visited the powwow to sample American Indian foods, buy American Indian items from Native Vendors, and to observe traditional American Indian Dancers and Singers.
Powwow Drums are by invitation only.
All vendor spaces are by invitation only and are sold out for 2012.
Schedule
- Saturday April 14: Dancer Grand Entry at noon and 6:30 p.m., powwow ends at 10:00 p.m.
- Sunday April 15: Dancer Grand Entry only at noon, powwow ends at 5:00 p.m.
- Doors, Vendors and Native Kitchen open at 11:00 a.m., both days.
Head Staff
- Host Drum: Wikwemikong Singers, Ontario, Canada.
- Co-Host Drum: Maza Napin, Yankton, South Dakota
- Co-Host Drum: Chaska Hotain Singers, Sioux Valley, Manitoba, Canada.
- Co-Host Drum: Silver Cloud Singers, Arizona
- Arena Director: Kenny Irwin, Sr., Fort Berthold, North Dakota. Arikara.
- Assistant Arena Director:Richie Plass, Oneida, Wisconsin. Menominee/Stockbridge Munsee.
- Emcee: Ron Colombe, Rosebud, South Dakota. Lakota.
- Head Male Dancer: Jiles Pourier, Cheyenne River, South Dakota. Lakota.
- Head Female Dancer: Tory HandBoy, Cheyenne River, South Dakota. Ojibwa/Lakota.
- Head Veteran Dancer: Paul Wilson, Browning, Montana. Blackfeet/Lakota. U.S. Army/Iraqi Freedom.
- Storyteller: Dolores Santha, Camanche/Seneca.
Call for Volunteers
The 2012 Powwow Committee is looking for volunteers now to assist with the logistical aspects of the powwow. Volunteers are needed for Powwow Set-Up, work in the American Indian Kitchen, Errands/Supplies/Facilities, Take-Down, and various other duties. This year we are asking volunteers to spend time with use in four (4) or eight (8) hour blocks of time. Please consider taking advantage of this unique opportunity to volunteer to share your time with American Indian cultures.
A Powwow Volunteer Orientation meeting will be held on Saturday, February 25th, 2012, at 10am in 104 Rackley Building on the Penn State University Park campus. If you are interested in volunteering for the powwow this year- please send an e-mail and we can add your name to the volunteer list. E-mail is the fastest way to reach us.
Please contact Powwow Volunteer Coordinator Bruce Teeple at mongopawn44@hotmail.com for more information about volunteer opportunities. Thanks for considering sharing your time with the American Indian Powwow.
Contact Us
For more information about our powwow and how you can participate, please email John Sanchez at apache@psu.edu. He is our powwow coordinator and he is always happy to talk powwow.
Powwow Coordinator:
John Sanchez
123 Carnegie Building
Dept. of Journalism
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802-5100
