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MATC 10TH ANNUAL
POWWOW CELEBRATES NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE
The annual Madison
Area Technical College (MATC) Powwow will be held this year on Saturday,
April 28. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the MATC Powwow draws approximately
2300 people to the MATC Truax campus each year. Sponsored by the MATC
Native American Student Association (NASA), the public is invited to the
event, which is part of the college’s celebration of Native American
History Month.
Held in the Redsten
Gymnasium at Truax, 3550 Anderson Street, events begin at 1 p.m. with
the Grand Entry, break at 5 p.m. for a meal, resume at 7 p.m. and are
completed by 10 p.m. This year’s celebration includes arts and crafts
for children and a lacrosse exhibition. Admission is $5 per person; children
under the age of five will be admitted free. The contribution includes
all activities and the meal at 5 p.m.
A powwow is a centuries-old
tradition that features singing, dancing, traditional dress and native
crafts. The MATC Powwow has gained a reputation over the years as being
one of the largest collegiate powwows in the Midwest. MATC hopes all eleven
of the tribal nations in the state of Wisconsin will be represented at
its powwow. These representatives may be dancers, singers or flag bearers.
In native culture,
the groups providing drums for the powwow are referred to as “singers”.
Midnight Express will serve as host drum. Invited drums include The Eagle
Singers, Five Clan, Madtown Singers, Thundercloud Singers, Chi-Noodin,
Wunk Sheek, Red Cedar, Duck Creek Crossing. The Lake Vermillion Singers,
Wisconsin Dells Singers, the Ah Nah Kenay Singers, as well as the Lake
Delton Singers. Joe Besaw will serve as master of ceremonies, while Robin
Carufel takes on the role of arena director. Frank Figueroa, from the
Oneida Nation, will lead the celebration as head dancer and Esie Leoso,
from the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, joins him as head female
dancer.
In the congenial atmosphere
of a powwow, Native Americans can freely celebrate their heritage through
many activities. In addition to singing and dancing, booths are set up
with traditional crafts, including everything from jewelry and clothing
to baskets and music. “Traditional dances are presented throughout
the day and intertribal dances provide everyone – Native American
or not – an opportunity to join the fun,” states RunningHorse
Livingston, MATC’s Native American Student Association (NASA) advisor.
“People have
been asking about the powwow as early as December,” he explains.
“The purpose of this year’s celebration is to create community
and educate students about native culture and tradition. MATC is an excellent
institution of learning. It’s only appropriate that it host one of
the region’s best powwows.”
MATC’s NASA strives
to bring a sense of community to the college. The members promote a positive
image of native people through education and shared experiences with the
non-native population. The association is also a support system, academically
as well as culturally, for all Native American students attending MATC.
MATC
is the second largest of the Wisconsin Technical College Systems’
16 colleges. It provides a comprehensive curriculum of technical, liberal
arts and science, adult basic education and life enrichment studies and
activities, as well as customized employee training. MATC awards associate
degrees, vocational diplomas and certificates, and offers non-degree courses.
The college serves all or parts of 12 counties located in south central
Wisconsin and offers instruction through five campuses and various other
locations throughout the district.
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Last
Modified:
September 17, 2001
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