Cal State Long Beach’s longstanding tradition of celebrating Native American cultures continues March 14-15 when the 53rd annual CSULB Pow Wow at Puvungna returns to campus.
Pow Wow honors Indigenous Nations throughout North America and, for over more than half a century, has provided a gathering place for Native Americans. The event has endured as a multi-generational tradition for many families who have retained Native American languages and dances, said Craig Stone, professor emeritus of American Indian Studies and art.
“For a lot of people, their grandparents danced in the arena, and they grew up dancing in the arena,” Stone said.
The Head Staff for this year’s Pow Wow includes Arlie Neskahi as Master of Ceremony. Neskahi, who is part of the Diné Nation, has fulfilled this role since 2018. Neskahi will be joined by Head Woman Dancer Cindy Dawson and Head Man Dancer Lewis Perkins.
Pow Wow is open to all visitors who want to learn about Native American traditions while experiencing arts, cuisine, dance and music. The gathering will take place at the intramural rugby and soccer fields on Lower Campus. Admission and parking will be free of charge.
“When you get there, you have to have a good heart and come there with good feelings for each other,” Stone said. “These are social celebrations and everyone has a place there.”
Cal State Long Beach sits on land that is important to Indigenous history. Puvungna was a village for people of the Gabrielino/Tongva/Kizh and Acjachemen/Juaneño Tribes and held to be a sacred place.
Southern California has the United States’ largest population of Native Americans living off Tribal lands, said Anna Nazarian-Peters, director of Student Life & Development and coordinator for American Indian Student Services. The Beach’s enrollment of Native American students increased during the 1960s, after the Educational Opportunity Program enabled the campus to welcome more students from underrepresented groups.
“These families helped shape what our Pow Wow looked like,” Nazarian-Peters said.
CSULB established the California State University system’s first American Indian Studies program in 1968, one year before the inaugural Pow Wow. The Beach now has a longer tradition of hosting a Pow Wow than any other university west of the Mississippi River.
This year’s event received philanthropic support from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a California tribe with historic connections to lands north of the San Francisco Bay.
“We are happy to support the Indian students who worked so hard to make this Pow Wow happen,” reads a statement from the Graton Rancheria Tribal Council.