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SHARING HISTORY: Time-Out Week, Wacipi Celebrate Indian Culture: Events Kick Off Monday at UND

Posted on: Friday, 31 March 2006, 09:00 CST

By Lisa Davis, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Mar. 31--Interested in learning more about another culture?

An upcoming week at UND will be dedicated to American Indian culture, allowing people to learn about their customs through discussion, demonstration and dance.

The UND Indian Association's 37th annual Time-Out Week and Wacipi, which organizers hope will strengthen the "circle of life" through cultural awareness, kicks off Monday and runs through April 9 at UND.

Time-Out week

Time-Out coordinator Courtney Davis said the opening ceremony, set for 11 a.m. Monday in the UND Memorial Union, will kick off the week in good spirits.

The rest of the events cover a broad range of topics, Davis said.

On Monday evening, American Indian storyteller and flute player Keith Bear will make stories come to life in the Recital Hall of the Hughes Fine Arts Center.

Former NASA astronaut John Herrington will speak about his experiences at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Memorial Union Lecture Bowl.

Discussions also are planned, including "Winter Counts, Rock Art and the Interpretations of American Indian History" from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Memorial Union.

An American Indian Research Forum will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday in the Memorial Union. The seminar "Restorative Justice: A Peacemaking Alternative" will be from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Those who would like more hands-on fun, can learn how to make frybread at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in O'Kelly Hall or attend a tipi construction class from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday outside Merrifield Hall.

Wacipi

While Time-Out week comes to a close, Wacipi is just beginning.

"Wacipi" means celebration. The 37th Annual Time-Out Wacipi Powwow, which kicks off April 7 in the Hyslop Sports Center, provides an opportunity for people to join in celebration, coordinator Amber Finley said.

Finley said she expects the event to draw up to 3,000 people from across the state and region.

"This is a chance for nonnative people to interact with native people and participate in something fun, but culturally relevant," Finley said.

Those who never have attended a powwow before will receive information about the powwow experience at the admissions booth. There also will be people within the audience and throughout the powwow wearing "ask me" buttons.

"If someone has questions about powwow or a particular dance, they can go up to them and say 'I don't know what this is, can you explain this to me?'" Finley said.

A separate information booth will have information on UNDIA and American Indian programs on campus.

New to the powwow this year is an art market, featuring American Indian artists and craftspeople, to be located on the second floor of the Hyslop.

A parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. April 8 near the Chester Fritz Auditorium on University Avenue, weather permitting. A buffalo roast feast for powwow participants, spectators, dancers and drummers will be at 5:30 p.m. April 8 in the Hyslop.

Admission to Wacipi is $5 for the day or $8 for the weekend. Children younger than 6, UND students with an ID card and seniors older than 55 will be admitted free.

About the week

Time-Out Week and Wacipi began with the cooperation of American Indian Student Services and President Tom Clifford in the late 1960s.

A whole week was designated to take time out to learn about American Indian culture on campus and across the state.

"I would really like to see people come out with a better understanding of Native American contemporary culture, or see they're able to respect another culture's way of doing things," Finley said.

For more information, including a full schedule of events, visit www.und.nodak.edu/org/undia.

Davis covers arts and entertainment and regional news for the Herald. Reach her at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or ldavis@gfherald.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

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Source: Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.)

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