Pow Wow

American Indian Center

1998 Powwow Photo

The SCSU Pow Wow has been a tradition on campus for nearly a quarter of a century. Community member, Mary Belgrade, met with the St. Cloud State University American Indian Center to establish an annual pow wow at the University. The idea was to connect all people in the community, sharing American Indian values and creating new friendships. The first pow wow occurred in 1993, and was attended by 200 people (St. Cloud Times, 1998). It initially was run by the Native students organization, All Tribes Council, until funding was discontinued. The American Indian Center took over the responsibility to plan the pow wows, which are held each year during American Indian Awareness Week on campus in April. This serves as a reminder to the campus and larger community that this is a Native place with a long and ongoing history.

These events recognize that Native Americans want to share their culture with all who are willing to appreciate it. For everyone in the St. Cloud community and throughout the region, this is an opportunity to gather. The pow wow at SCSU is a traditional pow wow. It is a gathering of dancers, drummers, and singers and all those who enjoy watching and participating. A traditional feast is provided at every SCSU Pow Wow for all guests and attendees. The meal is a symbol of respect and generousity for all guests, especially elders.

Watch: Pow Wow Interview with Jim Knutson-Kolodzne

Leaders of the pow wow perform many functions. Pow wow staff includes the Master of Ceremonies (MC), Arena Director and a tribal elder. The MC coordinates events, tracks pow wow activities, calls for drums to sing, works with the arena director, and welcomes pow wow participants. The Arena Director coordinates the dancers as they enter the arena for the Grand Entry. The tribal elder gives an invocation, and may assist in other spiritual aspects like offering a blessing for the traditional feast.

Songs are an important component of the pow wow, they vary in their use and pertain to types of dances and honoring ceremonies. The drums, which may recently made or handed down within a family, are made of deer, elk, or buffalo hide. The drum is more than a musical instrument, it is an important part of Native American traditions. The drum is has its own powerful spirit and is treated as a sacred instrument, symbolizing the heartbeat of the people.

Jim Knutson-Kolodzne is the Director of the American Indian Center, and the SCSU Pow wow Committee. He describes the Pow wow as "social and cultural events, like a family reunion, see old friends and making new ones" (Knutson-Kolodzne, 2017). The SCSU Pow Wow is always held in the spring, at the begining of pow wow season. The SCSU Pow Wow attracts people from all over the region.