Pow Wow Brings Dance, Music and Food to the University of Idaho
Tuesday, March 24 2009
March 24, 2009
Note to editors: Tutxinmepu is pronounced “Tut-zin-me-poo”
Written by Brandi Hayes
MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Native American Student Association will host the 10th annual Tutxinmepu Pow Wow, a gathering of northwest Indian tribes, April 4-5.
The event will take place in the university's Memorial Gym, 1001 University Ave. in Moscow.
“This event cultivates an understanding and awareness about traditional American Indian songs and dances,” said Steve Martin, director of the university’s Native American Student Center. “The Tutxinmepu is a time of celebration and sharing of our cultures.”
Events include a Grand Entry, which will introduce the tribes attending the event and several dances on Saturday, April 4, at noon and 7 p.m., and again at noon on Sunday, April 5.
Vendors also will be on hand with arts, crafts and traditional fry bread. A special honor song will be performed to mark the achievements made by recent December graduates of the university, as well as in anticipation of the accomplishments of the upcoming May graduates.
Throughout the Pow Wow, intricate costumes, drum performances and dancing will come together as
men, women and teens compete for prizes. There also will be a royalty pageant and a raffle.
The general public is welcome to attend this free event. Parking for the event will be in the southwest corner of Memorial Gym and behind the Administration Building. The Vandal Trolley Shuttle also will offer free transport to the Pow Wow from designated parking areas.
Leading up to the Pow Wow, the Native American Student Center will host three events throughout the week prior to the occasion.The events are free and open to the public, and include:
• Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m.: Angel Sabotta of the Nez Perce Tribe will kick-off the 10th annual Tutxinmepu Pow Wow Celebration Week with traditional storytelling in the Idaho Commons Whitewater Room, 875 S. Line St. in Moscow.
• Wednesday, April 1, at 7 p.m.: Musician and cartoonist Spider Moccasin of the Warm Springs Tribe will perform in the Student Union Building Gold Room, 709 Deakin Ave. in Moscow.
• Friday, April 3, at 7 p.m.: The Tutxinmepu Pow Wow will open with comedian Mitch Factor in the University Auditorium in the Administration Building, 851 Campus Drive in Moscow. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A member of the Seminole nation, Factor has been performing for the last 10 years from Anchorage, Alaska, to Germany in a variety of settings.
“Tutxinmepu” is the Nez Perce word for “the place where the deer lost their spots,” referring to the Palouse region.
To learn more about university's Native American Student Association, or to help out with the Tutxinmepu Pow Wow, contact Steve Martin at (208) 885-4237 or 1-88-88-UIDAHO ext. 4237.
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About the University of Idaho
Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.
Media Contact: Brandi Hayes, University Communications, (208) 885-7251, brandih@uidaho.edu
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.