Native American students held the first Puvungna Pow Wow at Cal State Long Beach as a means of establishing their presence on campus and celebrating their new journey as college students. 46 years later, the Pow wow continues — a celebration of life, culture and community.
This weekend, the Puvungna Pow Wow returns to CSULB’s central quad.
The event, which will run March 12 and 13, will feature traditional foods — such as Navajo tacos and fry bread — crafts, music and dance.
American Indian Studies Program Director Craig Stone said that the Pow Wow is a “sharing of culture” and a “celebration of life.”
According to Stone, the first pow wow at CSULB was held to establish a Native American presence on campus and to gain community support for Native American students.
“The first pow wow was for families. It was a celebration of relatives going to school,” Stone said.
Stone said that the first Native American students to attend CSULB were usually the first in their families to attend university. He said that most were not academically or financially prepared.
The American Indian Studies program at CSULB was created in 1968 by a large number of Native American students at CSULB. Stone said that program was the result of the need to tell the history and humanity of the different Native American tribes.
CSULB’s program is the first program of its kind west of the Mississippi, according to Stone.
The students formed study groups to discuss Native American history, Stone said. Eventually, the students along with some faculty went to the administration and asked for an American Indian Studies program.
Since those who have attended the pow wows over the years are from different tribes, the Puvungna PowWow has gathered and localized its own traditions. Stone said that many of the families who come to the powwow have been doing so for generations. Stone himself remembers attending the pow wow at CSULB when he was a child.
The pow wow is organized by the American Indian Student Council. According to the AISC’s Facebook event page, this is the largest pow wow in Southern California.
The pow wow is open to all in the Long Beach community. However, Stone said, “Our pow wow isn’t a show, it’s not a performance.”
Stone said people need to be respectful of the event and what it means both culturally and historically to the different Native American tribes.
One of the first events at the pow wow is the student encouragement song. Stone said the song, which is sung in the Dakota language, is a reminder that Native American students aren’t going to school for themselves but for the community and for future generations.
“People say they feel comfortable, or that they were moved by what people talked about or by the music,” said Stone.
According to Stone, since the rise in the 1970s of American Indian students attending college, there has been a widespread belief throughout different communities that education will bring about power and positive change.
Many who have graduated from the American Indian Studies program at CSULB have gone on to do “wonderful” things for their tribes, according to Stone.
“We have many role models affiliated with Long Beach and the American Indian Studies program,” Stone said.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. both days. Closing ceremonies will be at 10 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday they will be at 6 p.m.
Admission and parking for the pow wow is free both Saturday and Sunday.