The Native American Cultural Center is hosting more than 10 events for Native American Heritage Month, including the 37th annual AISES Pow Wow on Oct. 26.
Colorado State University’s Native American Cultural Center is gearing up to host a series of events in October and November — including the annual AISES Pow Wow — to celebrate Native American ancestry and traditions.
The events, part of Native American Heritage Month in November, include an educational session on Pow Wows on Oct. 24, led by Randy Medicine Bear who will explain the basics of the tradition.
“A Pow Wow is an inter-tribal celebration of dance, music and food,” said Tiffani Kelly, assistant director of the Native American Cultural Center. “It’s something that happens across Indian Country during certain times of year. We host one, and the idea is to bring together people. It’s a celebration of culture.”
This is the 37th year of the AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) Pow Wow, which features dancers, drum groups, food, vendors, social events and more. This year’s Pow Pow will feature drum groups Black Lodge and Cozad Singers.
The Pow Wow is scheduled for Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., in the Lory Student Center. Students and community members at CSU and beyond are welcome to attend.
Scenes from the 2018 AISES Pow Wow.
In November, the Native American Cultural Center will welcome a series of speakers, including artist John Hitchcock on Nov. 5. Hitchcock will share his experiences growing up on Native land that sits adjacent to Fort Sills in Oklahoma. His art explores the intersection between cultures, land and language. Other speakers include chef and culinary expert Sean Sherman on Oct. 19 and Santa Fe-based fashion designer Orlando Dugi on Nov. 7.
On Nov. 12, the Native American Cultural Center will host a session with Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand, an illustrator and graphic designer who will discuss her passion for community and social justice as seen through her illustrations of Indigenous youth.
Additionally, there will be several opportunities to taste Native American cuisine. On Oct. 25, the Native American Cultural Center will host a frybread sale in the Lory Student Center Plaza 11 a.m.-1 p.m. There also will be Native American dishes at The Foundry Oct. 29-30 as well as at the Aspen Grille Oct. 31-Nov. 1 as well as the annual Harvest Dinner on Nov. 19.
Native American Cultural Center 40th anniversary
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Native American Cultural Center, which embraces and encourages a supportive environment based on the traditions and cultures of Native American peoples.
Native American Cultural Center Director Ty Smith said the center will be hosting a variety of events to commemorate the anniversary throughout the year, with more details to come. He added that the annual Pow Wow brings in people from across the state and around the region including Wyoming and South Dakota.
“People come from all over,” he said. “It shows we are a thriving vibrant community with a lot to offer that celebrates the past and recognizes the future and what we have going on as a community.”
Native American Heritage Month events
Oct. 19
A talk with Chef Sean Sherman
5:30 p.m.
Lory Student Center Theatre
Chef Sean Sherman, who has been cooking across the U.S. and Mexico for 30-plus years, discusses the indigenous foods culinary movement.
Oct. 23
Queer Connections: The colonization of gender and sexuality
Collaboration with Pride Resource Center
4-5:30 p.m.
LSC 308
Participate in a session on Native American identities and how the concepts of gender and sexuality have been altered by colonization.
Oct. 24
‘Pow Wow 101’
6:30-7:30 p.m.
LSC 324
Randy Medicine Bear explains the basics of Pow Wow, ranging from the different styles of dancing and singing to the traditional aspects.
Oct. 25
Heritage month kickoff and frybread sale
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
LSC Plaza
Oct. 26
37th annual AISES Pow Wow
10 a.m.-10 p.m.
LSC Ballrooms
10:30 a.m. — Gourd dancing
1 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Grand entry
1-5 p.m. — Pow Wow
Oct. 29- 30
The Indigenous Kitchen
The Foundry, located in Corbett Hall
Taste foods indigenous to North America (Oct. 29: dinner; Oct. 30: lunch and dinner).
Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Native American dishes
LSC Aspen Grille
Experience foods featuring ingredients native to the Americas.
Reservations at (970) 491-7006 or lsc.colostate.edu/dining-at the-lory-student-center/aspen-grille.
Nov. 5
Duhesa Art Gallery reception: America! America! with John Hitchcock
4:30-6:30 p.m.
LSC Duhesa Gallery
Visual artist John Hitchcock explores the intersection between cultures, land and language.
Nov. 7
Walking in beauty: An evening with Orlando Dugi
7-8:30 p.m.
Avenir Museum
Orlando Dugi (Diné), a Santa Fe-based designer, discusses his work and exhibition, which presents examples of women’s evening wear and handbags. Read more
Nov. 12
Keynote speaker: Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand
6-7:30 p.m.
LSC Long’s Peak Room
New Mexican artist Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand discusses her passion for community and social justice, which has led her to create empowering illustrations of indigenous youth.
Nov. 19
Harvest Dinner Community Event
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location TBA
Join in the “Indigenous Food Revolution” to learn how the Earth is a teacher and food is medicine. Arikara Farm and NACC support the Indigenous Community Dinner.
