The Native American Student Association at the University of Oregon held its 58th annual Mother’s Day Powwow across May 8 to 10. Powwows are important social gatherings in Indigenous communities; they’re festive, social events centered on dance and song performance. NASU hosts the Mother’s Day Powwow every year to celebrate mothers and upcoming graduates. It’s the longest-running documented powwow in the state of Oregon, according to UO’s website for the event.
These powwows are fully run and funded by members of NASU and require months of planning. Alyssa Velarde, a NASU student and member of the Navajo Nation, was one of the six co-directors responsible for the planning of the powwow.
Friday’s powwow had a large number of traditional Native dancers filling the space, with attendees, from elders to young children, dancing along in traditional outfits to the loud drums. “Dancing is medicine,” Velarde said. “It’s just a good time to celebrate why we’re here and just, like, resiliency for the native community.” The event also featured Native vendors, selling traditional beadwork jewelry and other artwork…