This year marks the 50th anniversary of the MSU Billings Powwow, one of the biggest student-led American Indian events in the Northwest. All Montana’s tribal nations, as well as Native American nations from Wyoming, North Dakota, and Canada will take part.
Students, faculty, and staff join together to help put on this event, and Reno Charette, Director of the Native American Achievement Center at MSU Billings, Brennon Chesarek, intern at the Center, and Ashler Bearcrane, MSUB Intertribal Indian Club President joined YPR in the studio to discuss this annual tradition, which takes place this year on April 6th and 7th on the campus of Montana State University Billings.
UPDATE: MONDAY, MARCH 26th, 3:40pm
The recorded interview with Reno, Brennan, and Ashler make mention of Supaman announcing and a middle school basketball tournament. Resounds learned on the day of the broadcast that some changes have been made to the Powwow schedule. From the office of the Native American Achievement Center:
The MSUB Powwow committee reports that Christian Parrish, aka Supaman, has been called away and will not be an announcer at the powwow. Also, the middle school basketball tournament has been cancelled. Not enough teams registered.
However, young and old will enjoy a workshop & concert by Lakota artists in the “Scatter Their Own” band on Friday, April 6, at 7 pm in Petro Theater. A Billings band, “Arterial Drive” will open. The workshop will focus on the strength of cultural identity to expressing your voice and serving as an environmental steward of the earth. Tickets are $10.00. Available at the Native American Achievement Center, 2630 Normal Avenue, 8:30-5 weekdays.
In addition to the events surrounding the Powwow, Marita Growing Thunder, founder of Save Our Sisters, will also have some of her dresses on display. Marita is currently a studying at Montana State University in Bozeman. During her senior year at Polson High School, she made and wore a dress each day to raise awareness of the high numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women in the United States.
“I grew up understanding that sewing in general is a task you do for people you love and when you sew you put yourself in what you create. You kind of tell your own story with your beads and your fabrics,” said Marita.
This exhibit at the annual powwow is part of a year-long focus by the Native American Achievement Center on violence on Native American women that began in the Fall 2017 semester and included a film series centered on missing and murdered indigenous women.