The Pow-Wow's purpose is to introduce and educate the community about Native American culture. The Grand Entry, a display of the Native American flag, which includes Eagle Feathers, along with the American flag and the POW-MIA flag, will honor Native American and American veterans at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. with participants in full regalia. Raffles, featuring donations from various vendors, will be held at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. The inner circle will feature Native American dancing and musical presentations. Last year's Pow-Wow featured ten drum groups and 300 dancers.
All drum groups are welcome to participate.
This year NIU alumna Jennifer Moness will perform as the female head dancer. The educational area will feature representatives from the Native American activist group Midwest Soaring available to talk about Native issues such as burial rights, sacred places and mascots. Native American museums and centers also will have booths. The event will feature Native American vendors offering such items as jewelry, pottery, blankets, clothing, music, moccasins and native food items such as fry bread, Indian tacos and corn soup. Current fall 2000 enrollment statistics show 75 students attending NIU are of Native American descent.