UMD’s Indigenous Student Organization hosted the 3rd annual Ziigwan Powwow celebration. The cultural event continues doubling in the size every year with close to 800 people celebrating the start of spring.

Several indigenous tribes throughout the Northland celebrated UMD’s Ziigwan Powwow. This event brings people together to reconnect with family or make new friends. Jeremy Wilson is the Assistant Director for UMD’s American Indian Learning Research Center. He says one of the traditions for a powwow is the dance drum, which rallies people together.

“The drum is considered to be in many levels the heartbeat of our people, and dancing is an individual way for people to express themselves authentically. That’s what our circle does, is promotes that circle in unity and coming together, in a good way.,” Wilson said. “What we’re doing is welcoming that positivity of the newness, because the season is changing. Spring is our new year culturally amongst the Anishinaabe people.”

Reuban Crowfeather, is the Arena Director for the Ziigwan Powwow. He says powwows were once outlawed by the US Government in the 1920’s. Fast forward today, powwows are now a way for indigenous people to continue cultural traditions. It’s also a way for residents in the Northland to learn more about the Anishanaabe people.

“Back in the day, they used to be a social dance, but now it’s almost as if it were a victory. A long time ago, they took this kind of stuff away from us, and they kind of forced a certain way of life on us,” Crowfeather said. “Today, we exercise our culture by putting on these powwows and coming together. We have a lot of youth that kind of struggle with things at home and this is the place to be. A place to interact with your community, your friends, your family.”

Everyone is welcomed at the Ziigwan Powwow. Mataya Larson is a member of UMD’s indigenous student organization and she says they want to continue making it bigger and also better every year.

“Powwows usually start in like the spring and end in late summer. It’s when Mother Earth is waking up and that kind of stuff. So we don’t want to disturb her during the winter times because she’s sleeping,” Larson said. “We are actually kind of the first ones in the area to start the powwow season, and powwow trails. I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and be like, ‘I love the UMD powwow because it starts off powwow season, it makes me excited and want more.’”

Also for more information about Fond du Lac Tribal Community College’s Powwow you can read more here.