The Student Newspaper of MSU Denver
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VOL. 40
NO. 5
SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
themetropolitan
Saving heritage through art
Powwow preserves culture
Photo by Miriam Mimi Madrid | mayala3@msudenver.edu
Jeremiah Francis, a Diné/Southern Cheyenne/Shawnee/Pawnee powwow dancer, helps fan off a baby during a round of intertribals at the 28th Annual Friendship Powwow and American Indian Cultural Celebration on Sep. 9.
By Miriam Mimi Madrid
South Dakota. Spaces like the
mayala3@msudenver.edu
Friendship Powwow are vital for
native residence program five
indigenous” and to see if he was
her family’s legacy of dancing to
years ago. To celebrate the
a real Indian with the right to
live on. “We have this part of the
benchmark, they invited three
speak on the issues impacting
from tots to elders, swayed
culture that we can hang on to.
alumni to co-create in the
native communities. Deal thinks
NEWS
in their colorful regalia to the
This means a lot for us to actually
collaborative project called Action
that governmental funding
University’s strong stance on DACA.
thundering drum and the belting
participate and get to know the
X Community X Togetherness.
might have played a factor.
of native singers during the 28th
different people,” she said.
“They are incredibly important
Powwow dancers of all ages,
Annual Friendship Powwow
Tammy Poindexter has been
DAM officially started the
to verify if it was “appropriately
government more than a bunch of Indians with opinions?” Deal said.
attending the event for the past
art and indigenous voice to the
Celebration on Sept. 9 hosted
nine years and says the best part
arts in the Denver region and
by the Denver Art Museum.
| pg. 2
“I mean, what undermines the
here for our community bringing
and American Indian Cultural
INSIDE
Poindexter thinks indigenous
OPINION
| pg. 5
Making Denver snob free and
is the environment of learning.
nationally,” said John Lukavic,
people need to share their
Hundreds gathered at the
“It’s good for non-Indians too.
associate curator at DAM.
opinions even louder to continue
Acoma Plaza, the space between
It gives them a chance to learn
the Denver Public Library and
about the original people of this
reciprocal. “This is one of the
DAM, to witness enduring
land like the Diné, Cheyenne, Utes,
museums that always thinks
indigenous cultural legacies of
Apache and Sioux,” she said.
about our community, gives
I want my sons to hang on to
back and does it in a beautiful
them and pass them to their
SPORTS
way,” said Melanie Yazzie.
kids for when they are ready
Volleyball competition brings in top
to dance,” Blacksmith said.
competition.
dance and participate in artmaking and community building. Santanna Blacksmith, of the
People filtered through the second and third floors of the museum to visit the American
The appreciation was
Gregg Deal worked for the
healthcare available for all.
the legacy of expression running
FEATURES
through their ancestral roots.
Red Bull Sound Select energizes
“All the moccasins I make,
Oglala Lakota nation, is a mother
Indian art collection which
Smithsonian Museum last summer
of four boys who all dance
included artwork from the artists
and said they were cautious of his
traditions of art and dance
and are growing between two
honored in the Powwow who
work from the start. At one point
be passed down to the next
worlds, the city of Denver and
participated in the Native Arts
they took his work to the National
generation in the same
the reservation at Pine Ridge,
Artists-in-Residence program.
Museum of the American Indian
ways she was taught.
She wants to see those
| pg. 8
Globe Hall. | pg. 9