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POWELL, Wyo. - In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the Native Ways student organization at Northwest College will host its annual Buffalo Feast at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in the Rendezvous Lounge of the DeWitt Student Center on campus.
Featured guests are select dancers and singers from the Arapaho Nation. Since its official inception in 2004, the 30-member group has performed across the United States, most notably at the last presidential inauguration parade in Washington, D.C. Other venues include Devil’s Tower, Wind River Casino in Riverton and the dedication of the
Arapaho Nation members come from a traditional extended family that stresses the Northern Arapaho culture and ways. All grew up on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
The group participates regularly on the powwow circuit, traveling to the Denver Powwow in Colorado, Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, N.M., and the United Tribes International Powwow in Bismarck, N.D.
Their performance at the Buffalo Feast will feature traditional Great Plains dances, including a round dance called the friendship dance, plus the grass dance and fancy feather dance for males and jingle dress dance and fancy shawl dance for females.
William C’Hair, father and grandfather of the group, will narrate each dance, explaining its origin and significance, and the performers’ movements.
The Arapaho Nation performance follows a traditional feast featuring buffalo roast and foods indigenous to the Americas. The celebration has been part of NWC’s culture for the past 17 years.
The Buffalo Feast is supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Art Council, through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tickets cost $18 for adults, $12 for children 12 and under, and $8 for NWC students. Advance reservations are required by Monday, Nov. 11.
Email or call Amy McKinney at 307-754-6008 for ticket and event information.