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Around Campus

Carolina hosts 29th annual powwow

The American Indian culture was on full display March 5 as the Carolina Indian Circle, for the 29th year, hosted its annual powwow at Fetzer Gym.

A person wears traditional ceremonial garb.
The Carolina Indian Circle hosted their annual powwow March 5 at Fetzer Gym. The celebration drew dozens of dancers and drummers from Native American tribes in North Carolina and the surrounding states.

Sophomore psychology student Samantha Daniel often comes across the notion that American Indian culture is something only found in the history books.

As a member of the Haliwa-Saponi nation and a modern-day powwow dancer, it is an idea she stands to refute.

“We are still here,” Daniel said. “A lot of people think that Native Americans are extinct and things like that. We’re still very much involved in our culture. It’s not something that we talk about like ‘back in the day we used to do this.’ We still continue to do this.”

The American Indian culture was on full display March 5 as the Carolina Indian Circle hosted its annual powwow at Fetzer Gym. Hosted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the past 29 years, the celebration draws dozens of dancers and drummers from Native American tribes in North Carolina and the surrounding states to kick off the 2016 powwow season.

“It is such an honor and a privilege to be here today,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt after dancing in the celebration’s Grand Entry. “This powwow is so special for our University and being able to dance in was really one of the very special moments that I will always cherish.”

Dressed in traditional powwow regalia, dancers and drummers participated in competitions that put American Indian culture front and center. One of those dancers was Daniel, who served as the event’s lead female dancer.

“I usually dance at powwows,” she said. “Being that this is my University, I definitely wanted to dance in our powwow.”

Throughout the six-hour celebration, spectators engaged in various aspects of American Indian culture including traditional foods and vendors showcasing their crafts.

“It’s our opportunity on campus to celebrate American Indian heritage and culture, and at the same time share it with the campus community,” said Amy Locklear Hertel, director of Carolina’s American Indian Center. “Being an American Indian is not about history. It’s modern day. We really want people to understand that these are practices and cultures of today.”

While the powwow was a social event and competition for the dancers, Hertel hoped the celebration would do more than just entertain spectators, but also educate them on American Indian culture.

“Powwows are about celebration, they’re about fellowship, they’re about sharing food, it’s about vendors coming out to sell their wares and really helping to educate,” she said. “A powwow is highly visual, but if a person were to go and actually listen to the emcee, the amount of education that occurs is tremendous.”