The NIC Sentinel

Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Nikolas Bjurstrom Dave Melting Tallow from the Blackfoot Tribe performs a traditional dance last Monday in the SUB as part of the Native American Awareness Week.

American Indian Awareness week began Monday with a drumming and dancing presentation held in the SUB at noon.

"I started here last September, and one of the things I wanted to do was raise awareness by having an Indian Awareness week," said NIC's American Indian Student adviser Evanlene Melting Tallow.

Melting Tallow spoke to the crowd of around 100 people who watched the dancers. She announced the different dance styles and regalia the performers were exhibiting.

Male dancers Colby White and Clayton Broncheau performed the traditional style dance. Male dancer Dakota Medera, from the Colville Tribe, performed a grass dance. Each style of dance is accompanied by different attire and often varies by tribe.

Each of the male dancers were wearing what is called a Bustle and Roach. The Bustle is a feathered ornate piece worn on the back and the Roach is the headdress.

Female dancers Desba White, a Fancy Shawl Dancer of the Yakima and Navaho tribes, Sophie Bob, Jingle Dancer of the Shuswap Tribe and Tawnie Cullooya of the Kalispell tribe, performed after the male dancers.

The Fancy Shawl dance is a popular dance with the crowd but also with the dancers. Prior to the 50's the women only had dances that were of a slow formal manner.

The Fancy Shawl is a flamboyant dance that is very colorful, with movements and costume that bring to mind a flying butterfly. It began up north as a tourist and competition dance in the early '50s then gained popularity down South in the mid '70s.

At the end of the performance the music was cued up and the men and women danced together in a circle. This is called a Round Dance and all attending were invited to participate. Several people from the audience joined in the dancing.

"A lot of these dancers travel all around and dance at different Powwows.The American Indian Student Alliance Club helped put together the American Indian Awareness Week," Melting Tallow said.

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