Tutxinmepu Pow Wow: Connecting Native and Non-Native Communities

The drum beat pulses though the crowd like a heartbeat, enabling the circle of dancers to move in tempo with the music. Dressed from head to toe in colorful outfits, these dancers have more to share than the movement in their dances. They are sharing their culture and identity, and promoting a sense of community.

Steve Martin, director for the University of Idaho’s Native American Student Center says, “Drums are the heartbeat of the Pow Wow.”

The 2010 Tutxinmepu Pow Wow will be presented by the Native American Student Association May 1-2 at the University of Idaho’s Memorial Gym. A gathering of Northwest Indian tribes, “Tutxinmepu” is a Nez Perce word for “the place where the deer lost their spots,” referring to the Palouse region.

In the past on the University of Idaho campus, pow wows have been perceived as strictly for Native Americans. However, this is a simply not true. The Tutxinmepu Pow Wow is open to all members of the university campus and the Moscow community, says Martin.

“Pow wows provide a cultural learning experience that bridges the cultural gap between the Native communities and non-native communities,” says Martin.

Pow wows of the past were not quite the event that they are today. Janice Ellenwood, retention specialist in the Native American Student Center, noted that “traditionally tribes held dances to commemorate or prepare Native Americans for war or to celebrate a feast or a good hunting trip.”

Later on, Buffalo Bill took the dances to the mainstream through his Wild West Shows. Today, pow wows can be seen throughout the country and dancers often compete for prize money ,.

Native American dress is a large part of the pow wow. Outfits are created using various materials including feathers, beads and different fabrics. The dancer’s family or tribe is represented through the colors and patterns he or she uses in the outfit. For this reason, the outfits are as important as the dances.

“Regalia can be passed down from generations,” says Ellenwood.

Outfits can take years to create. Often dancers will keep adding to their outfit long after they begin making it. The outfit also can show prestige, which is why dancers often have more than one outfit. Dancers with more than one outfit have been known to switch up their outfit for each dance session.

“There’s a saying that a Pow Wow outfit is never complete,” says Martin.

Another important aspect of the Pow Wow is the food. Dinner is a way to pay tribute to the dancers and singers, as well as show appreciation to all guests of the Pow Wow. No matter how full someone might get, they should never refuse the food. Eating what is offered is a way of saying thank you.

“Whatever food we have, we share it with our family, friends and guests,” says Ellenwood.

The Tutxinmepu Pow Wow is held every year. In the past, it was held in the fall. However, students from the Native American Student Association did not have enough time coming back from summer to plan the pow wow. So in recent years, it was moved to the spring, which also provides an excellent opportunity to honor all graduating Native American students. Pow wows showcase the university’s support to its Native American students. It also allows a chance for future Native American students to become engaged with the university.
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