Essay on The Stanford University Pow Wow - 4935 Words

The Stanford University Pow Wow Eucalyptus Grove comes alive with the beat of the drums, sending chills of power trickling down your spine. All around you are people, over 30,000 weaving in and out of over 100 booths. Despite the tickle of your nose from the dust kicked up by the passionate dancers in the arena, you are greeted by the smell of foods representative of different tribes. The crowd is colorful in dress, face and purpose; the songs represent and evoke different emotions. You have just entered the Stanford American Indian Organization’s Annual Pow Wow. The excitement and festivities last from Friday night till Sunday at dusk, when the last Grand Entry occurs during every Mother’s Day weekend.†¦show more content†¦This paper will present the history of the Stanford University Pow Wow; discuss the actual dynamics and activities of the Pow Wow; show what happens behind the scenes; and conclude with implications and suggestions as to how Stanford University can augment the ways they have been of help regarding the Pow Wow. History In November of 1970, a group of Natives came together to fight the issue of Stanford’s mascot – the â€Å"Indian†. Since 1930, the Stanford athletic teams had a big-nosed caricature of an â€Å"Indian† to serve as their mascot. The Natives petitioning for a new mascot fought the issue on the grounds that the â€Å"Indian† made Native religious practices seem ridiculous and that using a race of people for entertainment through the performances by Timm Williams, also known as Prince Lightfoot, was unethical and should be discontinued. As part of their efforts to educate others about the true Native image, this small group of Natives put on the first Annual Stanford Pow Wow. The event in the 1970’s was not as big as the Pow Wow everyone has come to know and love today. But the same reasons for having the event motivated that group of Natives: education and experiencing true Native cultures. The small group of Natives named themselves the Stanford