Under the baobab: Penn State Powwow continues to grow in 19th year
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, APIDA History Month and when college campuses celebrate Pride Month, since most students are gone during June.
Last weekend, Centre County and Penn State celebrated the 19th Annual Traditional American Indian Powwow, the largest and most impactful indigenous cultural gathering held in the eastern part of the United States. Founded by Professor Emeritus John Sanchez, the event began in March 2001 in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the American Indian Leadership Program.
After three years of planning, the event grew into New Faces of An Ancient People Traditional American Indian Powwow, which gathered at Mount Nittany Middle School, co-sponsored by Penn State’s College of Communications and the State College Area School District. This year, held at C3 Sports, the powwow grew to include over 7,000 visitors, 250 registered dancers and over 150 volunteers. Marie Hardin, dean of Penn State’s college of communications, was celebrated with an honor song for her special contributions to powwow.
“Everyone, native or non-native, is welcome. It is one of the few cultural events that non-natives can be a part of simply by attending,” said Sanchez.
The celebration concluded with a four-hour mini-powwow, one drum, two dozen dancers and a handful of vendors.
Others involved included: assistant coordinator Victoria Sanchez; host drum, Iron Lightning; co-host drums: Red Blanket Singers, Maza Napin, Thunder Nation and Medicine Horse Singers; head veteran dancer, Shenandoah Ellis-Ulmer, MSgt (retired); head man dancer, Lawrence Reddest, Stcungu “Lakota” Tribe of Rosebud, South Dakota; head woman dancer, Charlotte A. Star Reddest, Allegheny Lenape Nation; head cook, Mike Zerby, Mission Bend Potawatomi; arena director Roger Campbell, Sisseton/Wahpeton Dakota Sioux; volunteer coordinator, Bruce Teeple; and cafeteria supervisor, Joche Gayles.
The emcee, Guy Jones, Hunkpapa Lakota, is a full blood member of the Standing Rock Tribe. He is a direct descendant of Pizi (Chief Gall) who led the frontal charge against the 7th Calvary at Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn).
Elsewhere in the community
Hosted by the Racial Equity Advisory Commission, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration group presented “King: Elegy in Verse and Music 2025” at the State College Municipal Building, emceed by Gary Abdullah. It featured readings, prose, poetry and music by Kesla Elmore, Pheolyn Allen, Takina Walker, Joshua Gentry, Carmin Wong, Terri Parker and Stephen Mariner. The event was in remembrance of Dr. King, who was assassinated 57 years ago.
The Center for Performing Arts at Penn State presented the touring production of “The Addams Family,” featuring Penn State musical theater grad Melody Munitz playing Wednesday Addams.
The College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Philosophy held a two-day conference on “The Dialectics of Freedom: The Critical Theory of Angela Davis.” After being welcomed and introduced by Dean Clarence Lang of the College of the Liberal Arts, and Amy Allen, Davis delivered a rousing discourse to about 500 people: “We Can Always Hope for Something More: Freedom as the Journey that Never Ends.” Prof. Davis spoke on the need for collective action over individual performance, particularly in these troubled times.
And around the community, the “resistance” grows — the Climate Action Campaign held a protest rally on the HUB-Robeson lawn on March 25. Peter Buck, Hilary Caldwell and Kaelyn Antolick were among the speakers.
Students for Justice in Palestine hosted Huwaida Arraf, co-founder of International Solidarity Movement, who spoke on Palestinian people’s resilience.
Last week, over 100 people celebrated International Transgender Day of Visibility at the Allen Street gates.
Margie Swoboda, head of the Centre County Democratic Committee, hosted a town hall meeting on March 29 that included: former Congressman Conor Lamb; state Reps. Paul Takac and Scott Conklin; County Commissioners Amber Concepcion and Mark Higgins; former Congressional candidate Zack Womer, and Ray Bilger. The event was emceed by Ferguson Township Supervisor Omari Paterson. About 350 people filled The State Theatre. Manifesting that all politics are local, over a dozen citizens asked questions and voiced concerns.
As We, the people, speak, let us listen to each other.