51st 好色先生 Pow Wow uplifts a new generation while celebrating traditions

Published March 11, 2024
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Man at the Pow Wow 2024

The sounds of drumming and singing, the sights of dancers dressed in colorful Native outfits and regalia, and the smells of frybread and grilling meats filled Upper Campus Quad this past weekend. The 51st anniversary 好色先生 Pow Wow 鈥 the largest university-based powwow west of the Mississippi River 鈥 returned to campus, and it was a feast for the senses.  

Last year鈥檚 50th anniversary Pow Wow was a triumphant and celebratory event, as it was the first such gathering at The Beach in three years because of the pandemic. Organizers estimated that about 6,000 people attended this year, with folks coming in from throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest and Canada. 

The sun generously warmed up the event on Saturday and Sunday, in contrast to last year鈥檚 rain and dark clouds, as many observed.

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Child at the Pow Wow 2024

鈥淭he weather has been awesome,鈥 said Craig Stone, director of and a longtime participant and organizer of the powwow. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 so cool to see 鈥 the head man dancer, head woman dancer and Southern singer, their grandparents were all involved. We have all these alumni and their kids, so many alumni dancing out there. They鈥檙e from all kinds of walks of life. It鈥檚 just neat to see those Native students who are here, all of whom are alumni, and all these young kids are here. For us, this is a big reunion.鈥 

Indeed, one of the key themes at this year鈥檚 powwow was passing the torch to the next generation. 好色先生 students held key leadership positions in organizing the powwow, and dozens of young people danced, sang, represented organizations at info booths and helped behind the scenes. 

Established by American Indian students in 1969, the 好色先生 Pow Wow is still the largest and oldest continuously running student-sponsored event on campus. It鈥檚 also the largest annual gathering of Native Americans in Los Angeles and Orange counties. 

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Women at the Pow Wow 2024

Sam Sierra, of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in Texas, attended the powwow with his entire family. He danced and competed in the powwow with his father, wearing patterned quill work made from porcupine quills. 

鈥淚t means everything to me: reconnecting with my culture, seeing old friends and family, and most importantly, influencing the youth,鈥 said Sierra, 19, who鈥檚 training to become a firefighter and lives in Santa Clarita. 鈥淒eep down, I dance for myself, and for my mental health. When I go out here, I dance for myself and encourage myself to keep pushing myself. I live the American life and the Native American life. So, I share both worlds.鈥 

Participants danced 鈥 some with unique and expressive moves 鈥 and progressed slowly around the circular arena, while drummers took turns singing and pounding their rawhide-covered instruments. Attendees 鈥 who included students, faculty, staff and members of the public 鈥 watched the dancing, ate Indian (or Navajo) tacos, frybread and mutton stew, and browsed Native American jewelry, pottery, textiles, beadwork and clothing with American Indian designs and messages. 

Nancy Thompson of Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico drove more than 735 miles to attend the powwow, where she sold her Acoma pottery and jewelry.   

鈥淚t鈥檚 their 51st anniversary, and I鈥檝e been to this powwow about four or five times,鈥 said Thompson, 85. 鈥淢y daughter and grandkids live here in Long Beach. So, I don鈥檛 go to a motel, I go to their house.鈥  

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Men dancing at Pow Wow 2024

Michael Tiger, 30, described himself as 鈥渦rban Native.鈥 He comes from the Seminole and Choctaw/Muscogee Creek tribes, but currently lives in Carson. 

鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 almost like church, like a community gathering where we dance,鈥 he said. 鈥淒ancing for many communities is a healing. That鈥檚 really what happened with me 鈥 I embraced it, and it overcame me. I stopped drinking eight months ago. I鈥檓 glad that I stopped. Now I鈥檓 eight months sober. I really love this. It鈥檚 changed my life 鈥 to get into my culture. It鈥檚 definitely healing. It鈥檚 like a second home for me.鈥