Bemidji State’s Council of Indian Students hosts 47th annual Powwow

Bemidji State University’s Council of Indian Students will host the 47th Annual Powwow on Oct. 27. The annual powwow is one of the largest student-led events held at Bemidji State with organizers expecting to draw over 1,000 spectators and dancers this year.

There will be two grand entries held during the event. The first grand entry will begin at 1:30 p.m., and the second is scheduled for 7 p.m. Hundreds of dancers come from across Minnesota to perform in different dance categories that celebrate American Indian culture. Throughout the day, dancers will perform grass dances, shawl dances and more by category. The powwow’s emcee will be Brandon Bowstring and the host drum will be Big Red.

“I think this celebration of culture is important to have at BSU, considering it is surrounded by three of the largest reservations in Minnesota. It is good to have community inclusion at the powwow and it helps American Indian students feel included,” said Chelsey Jourdain, the council’s president.

There will also be a royalty competition during the powwow for the younger generation of dancers aged 7-17. A young girl category, Princess, and a young boy category, Brave.

“Judges are picked from the crowd and they will debate on how they will judge the dancers,” said Jourdain. “Each young dancer will give a speech on why they should be chosen this year. The winners will hold the title of 2018-19 Princess and Brave for the entire year.”

The girl who is chosen will receive a beaded crown, and the boy will receive a beaded medallion.

The 47th Annual Powwow will be held in the Bemidji State University Gymnasium from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.

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MN State logoBemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. A member of the colleges and universities of Minnesota State, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. Bemidji State has an enrollment of more than 5,100 students and a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.

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