Culture and Art to be showcased at Powwow Father’s Day weekend

Native American dancers and artisans from across the country will gather this weekend at Carson City’s Stewart Indian School for the 2014 Father’s Day Powwow. Hosted by the Nevada Indian Commission and the Stewart Alumni, the annual powwow includes arts and crafts vendors and is a time for alumni, former employees, families and friends to gather at the historic Indian school campus.

“Everyone looks forward to the competition dancing, Native American arts and crafts, Indian tacos, and drum groups we have each year,” said Sherry Rupert, executive director of the Nevada Indian Commission. “This year is special as the powwow is celebrating the state’s sesquicentennial as a signature event. We are very pleased to have been designated a signature event of the Sesquicentennial celebration.”

A new Sesquicentennial Powwow Princess will be crowned and there will be a birthday cake for spectators on Sunday. Also, new this year Hawaiian dancers will be on hand during the dinner break to share their native Hawaiian culture with attendees and the Great Basin Native Artists group has provided an exhibit of contemporary and traditional art.

The Father’s Day event is part of an effort to establish the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center to preserve the history of the school, which served as an off-reservation boarding facility from 1890 through 1980 for youth from more than 200 tribes across the nation. The site offers the Stewart Indian School Trail, a self-guided walking tour of the campus with 20 points of interest and audio stories. Using personal cell phones, visitors can access recorded messages from alumni and employees about their personal experiences at the school.

After the school closed, the buildings were vacated and many became home to state offices. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and comprised of 83 buildings, the site continues to be a cultural center.

Powwow proceedings begin with the grand entry at 7 p.m. today. Saturday’s events begin at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Sunday’s activities are noon-4 p.m. The powwow is funded, in part, by a grant from the Nevada Commission on Tourism, the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, call Sherry Rupert or Deborah Larson at (775) 687-8333 or e-mail dlarson@nic.nv.gov or stewartindianschool.com for information. View the most recent updates on the powwow at the Stewart Indian School Facebook page.