Stanford Powwow Planned

Three hundred dancers and 30,000 spectators are expected May 11-13 at the 30th Annual Stanford Powwow and Indian Art Market, the largest student-run powwow in the country and one of the largest on the West Coast, said Naweko Dial, a powwow committee member.

"Stand and Fight, Resist, Educate and Reclaim" is the theme of the powwow, hosted by the Stanford American Indian Organization (SAIO). The theme is a tribute to the solidarity movement among indigenous peoples of the Americas, organizers said.

The powwow will feature two days and two nights of traditional Native American songs and dances, along with approximately 100 arts and crafts, food and Native American information booths. Dance competitions will include men's traditional, straight, grass and fancy dancing, and women's Northern traditional, Southern traditional, jingle and fancy dancing.

Powwow masters of ceremonies and their tribal affiliations are Lawrence Baker, Arikara, from New Town, N.D., and Monty Williams, Shoshone, from Fallon, Nev. Arena director is Wade Baker, Arikara, from New Town, N.D., and head judge is Marty Pinnecoose, Warm Springs, from Warm Springs, Ore. The Northern drum group is the Mandaree Singers, from New Town, N.D., and the Southern drum group is the Cozad Singers, from Carnegie, Okla.

The powwow will begin Friday, May 11, at 7 p.m. with a grand entry of dancers into the powwow circle at the eucalyptus grove at Galvez Street and Campus Drive. Dancing will continue until midnight Friday and is scheduled from 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The powwow is open to the public, and overnight camping is available by reservation. Limited bleacher seating is available; visitors may want to bring lawn chairs.

The powwow is organized and hosted by Native American undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, visit www.stanford.edu/group/powwow or call the Native American Cultural Center at (650) 723-4078 or 725-6944.