Dancing and drums will fill the Eucalyptus Grove tonight as the Stanford Powwow kicks off its 35th annual event. Sponsored by the Stanford American Indian Organization, the Powwow will bring approximately 30,000 visitors throughout the weekend, making it Stanford’s largest student-run event.

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Adrian Gaitan

The biggest student-run event on campus, the annual Powwow will add to last year's repetoire the Fun Run and wearing of shawls.

Powwow Co-chair Michelle Kauahquo, a senior, said that the event will showcase Native American cultural traditions from a diverse group of tribes.

“Most of the native community comes out for the event,” she said. “They say about 10,000 a day. We have dancers coming from all different tribes throughout the United States. We even have dancers from Canada. We have a big arts and crafts display and food booths as well, and we have 110 booths.”

Kauahquo added that dancing and dance competitions will be a major part of the ceremonies, as the Powwow will give away over $32,000 in prize money.

“The contest dancing is a big part of the weekend,” Kauahquo said. “Basically, the whole time after grand entry until closing on Sunday around 5 p.m., there’s something going on the whole time.”

This year, the Powwow will revive old traditions like the Fun Run and the wearing of shawls.

“After a couple years’ absence, our 10th annual 5k Fun Run will take place this Saturday at 8 a.m.,” said sophomore Katie Jones, publicity committee chair. “Also, our Stanford Native women are getting shawls. We apparently haven’t had shawls in years. The purpose is to get more people involved and to dance in our own powwows.”

Kauahquo said that the event requires yearlong planning.

“We’ve spent all year planning it, and when we come back in September we have to start it all over again,” she said. “It’s a never-ending process.”

Jones said the event is very personal for many Stanford students.

“I’m part Cherokee and the Native American Community here at Stanford has been a central part of my experience since I stepped foot on campus,” she said. “Since Powwow is our community’s centerpiece event, it was just natural to get involved. Last year I volunteered during the actual Powwow and this year I wanted a larger role.”

Kauahquo said that the gathering serves to unite the Native American community at Stanford.

“I think the most important goal is that it increases Native American awareness on campus and it brings the community together because we all work so hard with one big even throughout the year,” she said. “It gives everyone a chance to come together and we all share our own knowledge from each of our tribes. The success is mainly due to the students because everyone works so hard. We have about 70 or so students contributing to the planning.”

Roble Cultural Awareness Associate Rosemary Ndubuizu, a senior, also encouraged non-Native American students to learn about their peers’ cultures.

“It offers Stanford students a wonderful opportunity to witness amazing, beautiful cultural aspects of American Indians’ various cultures,” she said. “Hopefully, attending spectacular events such as this will inspire students to continually and proactively step outside of their cultural comfort zone and witness and experience the beauty of other people’s lifestyles and worldviews, which I hope will inspire a more diverse and culturally accepting society and encompassing worldview.”

Powwow organizers also expressed hope that the event will reach out to the larger Bay Area community.

“Our continuing theme throughout the years for Powwow has been ‘empowerment through education,’” Jones said. “We also emphasize Indian sobriety. For the larger Stanford and Bay Area community, Powwow represents a celebration of Native American culture. It is still alive and vibrant.”

The Powwow will be held from Friday, May 12 at 5 p.m. to Sunday, May 14 at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, though donations are welcome. See http://powwow.stanford.edu for more details.