Folding chairs formed a circle in the center of Gallagher Plaza, filling a large space in the busy area in front of William Pitt Union. Bright woven blankets were draped over the seats — an invitation to sit down and wrap yourself to keep warm. This circle is the arena, a sacred space for dancers and performers during a Native American powwow, where the festivities led by The Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center began on Sept. 25.
Behind the arena, a group of men formed the drum group — singers who played on a single rawhide drum, each with an individual drumstick to set the rhythm of the performances. Their drumbeats reverberated off the WPU as the Grand Entry began, the initiation of the powwow during which all participating dancers entered. Jason Whitehouse, the emcee of the powwow, led the Grand Entry, announcing the names of the performances and beckoning to Pitt students walking through the event.
“Women’s fancy… Men’s woodland… Women’s jingle dress,” Whitehouse said, each phrase introducing a new form of dance featuring different performers and regalia.
Performers wore feather arrangements, vibrantly colored ribbon strips, fringed pants and skirts and hand-woven aprons. Each performance showcased different styles of dress.
One of the performers of women’s jingle dress was Ariana Jamil, who wore a magenta dress adorned with rows of golden metal cones, giving the regalia its distinct name. Jamil, who was a first-time performer at the fifth annual partnership between Pitt and COTRAIC, said the most important part of bringing an event like this to Pitt is education.
“I think there’s a lot of misconceptions in the media and history in general of Native people, and that we’re not still here. And so I think this shows a really beautiful way that we still celebrate and participate in our culture in a modern day,” Jamil said. “We’re still thriving, and we love it, and we love sharing our culture.”
After each performance, more students flocked to the area, taking seats around the arena and halting their walk through the plaza to stand and watch. Vendor booths surrounded the arena, giving students a tangible way to interact with native culture. A booth selling woven blankets attracted students trying to find a handmade item to keep warm with in the cool fall air. Another vendor sold handcrafted jewelry and puzzles featuring art made by native illustrators, each box containing details transcribed with their name and tribe.
The growing number of students in the plaza invigorated participants, particularly Whitehouse, the emcee. Whitehouse and his son travel from Michigan every year to perform at Pitt. He said they look forward to informing and educating locals about Native culture in a university setting.
“We’re able to grab people’s attention, and even if it’s just for a moment, they get to see a new culture, because you don’t often see native culture,” Whitehouse said.
Whitehouse announced an “intertribal” performance, calling anyone out into the arena regardless of dress or tribe affiliation, including Pitt students. The drum beat set the rhythm, calling out right foot, left foot with each thunderous strike.
“Not too hard to do,” Whitehouse said over the speaker, beckoning for students to come out and have a good time. Students, performers and community members alike filled the circle, united by song, dance and smiles.
“That’s what the purpose of a powwow is — everybody to come together. It doesn’t matter if you’re Ojibwe or Seminole or Choctaw, Italian, German, Japanese, whatever your tribe is, it’s about coming together,” Whitehouse said.