Penn celebrated its 14th Annual Powwow at Houston Hall on Mar. 22.
Hosted by Natives at Penn and the Greenfield Intercultural Center, the Penn Powwow is a tradition that aims to celebrate diversity on campus and honor the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribe. The Powwow was open to the public and featured singing, intertribal dancing, and Indigenous vendors.
In a written statement to the DP, College junior and Natives at Penn President Ryly Ziese highlighted the effort it takes to bring the Powwow to campus each year.
“The Powwow committee is small, usually just 3-5 people at a time, and we’ve been working since September to make it a reality,” Ziese said. “It’s a lot of work to organize, but it’s incredibly rewarding. … After months of planning, seeing everything come together — the dancing, the music, the energy — was truly special.”
Attendees at Powwow were able to participate in tribal dances and other Native cultural traditions.
Vice president of Natives at Penn Mollie Benn echoed the sentiment and emphasized the personal connection that students form with the tradition.
“This was my third and final powwow with Native at Penn (we weren’t able to host an in-person powwow my freshman year because of COVID) and it was very bittersweet,” Benn wrote. “It was rewarding to walk around and see the array of vendors on the second floor and then to go to the main event area to watch the dancers and listen to our two drum groups.”
Last year, Natives at Penn celebrated the organization’s 30th anniversary at the 13th annual Powwow.
Both Benn and Ziese noted the significance of the Powwow to celebrate Indigenous culture on campus.
“Bringing this celebration of Indigenous culture to both Penn students and the Philadelphia community is always such a meaningful experience,” Ziese said. “I’m so proud to have been part of this event that connects people to Indigenous traditions and creates a space for cultural celebration.”
“It is always great to be able to come together and celebrate Native and Indigenous culture, bringing together people of intertribal identities as well as non-Natives who are also there to celebrate and learn,” Benn said.
Benn concluded by highlighting the importance of cultural celebrations like the Powwow today.
“It was a lot of work to put this event together but seeing it all come into fruition was special. Especially given the uncertain time we live in, even more so when we consider current social or political changes which may seem to threaten spaces that celebrate identity, culture, and inclusion.”
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