Augsburg College 

The event, which was sponsored by the Augsburg American Indian Student Association and American Indian Student Services, featured traditional Native American dancers, drummers, singers, and food.

To learn more about Augsburg’s annual powwow, visit the Twin Cities Daily Planet news site.

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The powwow—now in its fifth year—is an opportunity for Augsburg’s indigenous students to share their traditions and culture with the community, according to Jennifer Simon, event organizer and director of Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services.

“Each year, nearly a dozen students help me organize the powwow and learn all the details involved in planning a large cultural event for both the campus and the surrounding community,” Simon said.

The powwow, which features grand entries at 1 and 6 p.m., is cohosted by Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services and Indigenous Student Association. Registration for drums and dancers begins at 11 a.m., and there is no pre-registration allowed. Augsburg Native American graduates will be honored at 3 p.m., and Aztec dancers will perform at approximately 4 p.m.

The event includes food concessions, arts and crafts vendors, and informational tabling about community organizations as well as Augsburg’s educational opportunities and services for native students of all ages.

More information on the powwow is available on the American Indian Student Services web page.

The College offers an undergraduate major in American Indian Studies and Augsburg Admissions will host an informational session at 4:30 p.m. on the department’s web page, and learn about the beginnings of the .

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“The powwow is a chance for Augsburg’s indigenous students to share the traditions and culture of our peoples with the community,” said Jennifer Simon, event organizer and director of Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services.

“It also is an important opportunity for our community to celebrate the educational accomplishments of our native students and to plant the seed in young people that education can be part of their futures. This year’s program includes a special ceremony to honor our largest group to date of graduating native students.”

The powwow, which runs from 1-9 p.m., March 31 at Si Melby gymnasium, is cohosted by Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services and Indigenous Student Association. The event includes food concessions, arts and crafts vendors, and informational tabling about Augsburg’s educational opportunities and services for native students of all ages. One program specially designed for native learners is Naadamaadiwin, an online tribal program for native teachers to earn a Minnesota Special Education teaching license or Master of Arts in Education. The College also offers an undergraduate major in American Indian studies.

Registration for drums and dancers starts at 11 a.m., and there is no pre-registration allowed. Grand entries are at 1 and 6 p.m. At 3 p.m., 15 American Indian graduates from Augsburg will be honored.

To learn more about Naadamaadiwin, attend an information session at Augsburg from 6-7 p.m. on April 18 or May 23 at Oren Gateway Center. Questions can be directed to Sophia J. Jacobson at 612-330-1458.

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“Native youth will have the chance to step foot on a college campus, something that many of these students have never done before,” said Jennifer Simon, event organizer and director of Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services.

“Students will get a feel for what college is like, and interact with current Native college students with the hope that they will see college is an option for them. We want to implant the idea in their minds that they, too, can and should be college students in the future.”

Students are confirmed from a number of metropolitan school districts, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Robbinsdale, Anoka, Centennial, Osseo and others.

Billy Mills, also known as Makata Taka Hela, is the second Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. He accomplished this feat in the 10,000 meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the only American ever to win the Olympic gold in this event. His 1964 victory is considered one of the greatest of Olympic upsets. A former United States Marine, Billy Mills is a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Tribe.

Schedule of Events (Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center)

9 a.m. Welcome

9:15 a.m. Admissions presentation

9:30 a.m. Campus Tour & Connect with Native American College Students

11:30 a.m. Lunch (Christensen Center)

12 p.m. “Wings of an Eagle,” Native American Olympian Billy Mills, who was born and raised on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, presents a motivational presentation on living a drug-free, alcohol-free life, attending college, and more.

1:15 p.m.  “What is a College Class Like,” Eric Buffalohead, professor and chair of the American Indian Studies Department, talks about what students can expect when they get to college.

6 p.m. Community reception (Foss atrium)

7 p.m. “Unity Through Diversity,” Native American Olympian Billy Mills (Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center) This event is free and open to the public.

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