Once a year, the Kibbie Dome — normally reserved for housing Vandal sports and Idaho faithful — takes on a new and vibrant identity.
The Tutxinmepu Powwow, hosted by the Native American Student Center and the Native American Student Association, will celebrate its 20th anniversary Saturday and Sunday.
“Every year my favorite part is seeing the Kibbie floor full of dancers, hearing the shaking of bells, the brightly colored regalia, the vibration of the Dome from the singers and the elders smiling and visiting,” said Sydel Samuels, director of the Native American Student Center.
This year, the powwow will welcome more than 100 dancers from multiple tribes across the Pacific Northwest, Samuels said.
According to Samuels, dozens of singers, arts and crafts vendors and powwow participants will hail from as far as Canada for the yearly event, filling the Dome air with the rich sounds and smells of Native American culture.
Leslie Kiebert | File Photo
A young participant of the Tutxinmepu Powwow dances in the Kibbie Dome Sunday afternoon.
Samuels said students active in native culture on campus are largely responsible for planning the logistics of the two-day event, which often brings in more than 500 spectators.
The powwow is funded from multiple sources, including the Office of Equity and Diversity and the Office of Tribal Relations, she said. Additionally, donations from tribes, funding provided by ASUI and fundraising efforts by University of Idaho students help make the powwow possible.
“Powwow costs vary from year to year and we are fortunate to have a successful powwow because of various contributors, including a lot of volunteer support,” Samuels said.
Students, she said, lie at the heart of the powwow, as the two-decade old event was originally founded by UI students.
“The students play the largest role. They select the head staff, head drum, seek out tribal donations and are also are in charge of fundraising,” she said. “They stay at the event from the beginning to the closing, completing a multitude of tasks.”
For those planning to attend the event, Samuels offered advice on how to respectfully observe the Tutxinmepu Powwow.
The guidelines Samuels provided, called Powwow 101, outlined ethical behavior encouraged by those hosting the event. For religious reasons, all spectators are urged to ask before taking photographs and should refrain from touching any type of regalia — the traditional dress for powwow participants.
No spectator should pick up a feather which has fallen from anyone’s regalia. Instead, powwow officials should be contacted immediately.
Outside of the powwow — one of the most widely known examples of Native American culture on display on the Palouse — Samuels said there are many more opportunities for students and community members to learn more.
“Be on the lookout for events in November for Native American Heritage Month,” she said. “All UI students are welcome to use the Native American Student Center, participate with the Native American Student Association.”
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected]