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CLOUDY Temp: 57 °F Wind: S at 4 mph Saturday, August 3, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend July 14, 2002 Sun Bear of Selma wears the colorful dress of his tribe, the Cherokee Nation, during the Grand Entry of the Native American Leadership Institute powwow Saturday at Emigrant Lake. The powwow continues today, with the Grand Entry at 1 p.m. Click the photo to see a larger (40k) version; use your Back button to return to the story. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven ‘A place of wellness’ The public is invited to the Native American powwow at Emigrant Lake By BILL VARBLE Mail Tribune Being master of ceremonies at a powwow takes cultural savvy, timing and humor. Arlie Neskahi figures he comes by it honestly. "Whenever the people get together, somebody will get up and start talking," the Din� tribal member says. Neskahi came from Seattle to preside over the Native American Leadership Institute powwow being held this weekend in Ashland. The powwow continues from noon to 4 p.m. today at Emigrant Lake’s Area D. The opening ceremony, or Grand Entry, repeats at 1 p.m. The public is invited, and admission to the powwow itself is free after paying the $3 park admission fee. Neskahi says it’s protocol at traditional American Indian gatherings for guests to speak. "If I go somewhere and nobody gets up to speak, it seems rude," he says. But no rudeness is in evidence Saturday. "This seems like a very welcoming event," says Taylor Tupper. The Modoc tribal member is among the 10 drummers and singers of the Steiger Butte Singers, who are acting as host drummers at the powwow. Members sing various kinds of songs and play the traditional round drum, an elk-skin drum. If you see American Indian crafts or artworks here that look like the real McCoy, that’s because they are, says organizer Kristy Offineer of NALI. It is now illegal to sell or market American Indian goods or native-style merchandise without disclosing its tribal origin. Taking that idea a step further, NALI required vendors to be members of a tribe recognized by the U.S. government. She thinks this may be the first powwow in the area to put such a policy in place. "I went to one powwow and asked respectfully how many vendors were members of recognized tribes," she says. The answer, she says, was zero. Offineer says NALI figures the tribal requirement is squarely in line with the spirit of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, which affords protections to native culture and artisans. "As far as we’re concerned, it’s a truth-in-advertising issue," she says. NALI is a newcomer here, although there have been a number of other powwows at Emigrant Lake over the years. It’s a drug- and alcohol-free event. "We want people to respect the powwow as a place of wellness," says Offineer. Offineer says NALI’s goal is to create an annual event that showcases traditional and contemporary native cultures. In contrast to American Indian organizations that are artistic or educational in nature, NALI’s mission includes empowering future leaders, she says. NALI conducts classes aimed at strengthening American Indian-owned businesses and opening lines of communication among tribes and communities. The city of Ashland awarded NALI a cultural grant of $3,000. Offineer estimates the event cost about $8,000 to stage. Providence Health System, another sponsor, is providing diabetes information and glucose screenings at the powwow. Type II diabetes affects American Indians in large numbers and is the fifth-largest cause of death in that racial group. Also on tap Sunday is a women’s gathering in the morning with representatives of the American Cancer Society to learn the technique of self breast exam to detect breast cancers in its earliest stages. Other attractions include drumming, dancing and Indian fry bread. Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S