Time-honored traditions highlight Pow Wow
The smell of frybread and Navajo tacos filled the misty air, while drums and dances greeted the hearty spectators who sat under umbrellas during the opening of the 48th annual Pow Wow celebration at Long Beach State.
Saturday鈥檚 overcast skies, however, didn鈥檛 dampen the enthusiasm of the dancers and performers who took part in the annual American Indian social celebration held in the central quad over the weekend. Pow Wow, which focuses on the university鈥檚 strong American Indian presence, is the largest spring event of its kind in Southern California.
The two-day event is put on by the university鈥檚 American Indian Studies Program, American Indian Student Council, American Indian Student Services and other university groups.
Adelita Arrendondo, who graduated in 2016 with a degree in American Indian Studies, was one of the young women who were honored by the community on the first day. All the women, current and former students, wore shawls much like their ancestors for the ceremony.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so great to come here and see all of the tribes come together for a common purpose,鈥 Arrendondo said.
Arrendondo said she didn鈥檛 learn about her Native American heritage until she started at Long Beach State. She said her family didn鈥檛 talk much about their lineage.
鈥淲hat I鈥檝e learned is that Native Americans are wonderful people and I feel lucky to have learned about the culture and all the traditions,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 love it.鈥
The spectators, especially those who enjoyed sunny skies on Sunday, seemed to share Arrendondo鈥檚 sentiment, applauding the performers who took part in inter-tribal dancing, Gourd dancing and various recognitions. Both days were well-attended.
The name Puvungna comes from the ancient village of Puvungna, where Tongva people once populated the area that Long Beach State is now located. In 2016, Long Beach State officials and local Native American leaders gathered to recognize on the campus. Long Beach State was one of the first universities to return indigenous ancestors to campus reburial sites under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
