Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette From left, Robin Chosa, Debbie Wiliamson and Donald Chosa lead the grand entry to officially begin the powwow. During the entrance drums played and those following danced as those watching removed their headwear and stood in respect for the ceremony.

HOUGHTON — The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC) and Michigan Technological University’s Biskaabiiyaang Collective collaborated to host the Nanda-Gikendan Powwow over the weekend. The event took place at the Gates Tennis Center where numerous Indigenous Peoples gatheried together to celebrate their culture, visit with loved ones and feast.

This particular powwow was the first collaboration between the two institutions, who found the opportunity when both schools had to postpone earlier annual celebrations. Vice Chairman of the Board of Regents for KBOCC Robin Chosa, who also works in Michigan Tech’s Innovation and Commercialization Department as a business navigator, said having the two student bodies come together was special.

“My father graduated from MTU. I came to MTU. I’ve worked for MTU in various capacities and to me, it means a lot bringing these two institutions that mean so much to me and my family together and bridge this gap, because MTU sorely needed a little more native influence around,” he explained.

Chosa said the event was also a good way to introduce KBOCC students to Michigan Tech when they are looking to transition to a larger school. He added it was a good way to blend culture with higher education.

Biskaabiiyaang Collective President Anna Lindgren said she was excited to see Michigan Tech students be able to intertwine with her culture. “We are on Ojibwa ancestral land,” she said. “This is where our people have been for thousands of years, and for the university to be here and for us to not kind of have a place to celebrate our culture, it just wouldn’t make any sense. We make up a very small portion of the population as students, and we have to work really hard to kind of get our representation out there.”

The powwow is an event that serves as a way to celebrate traditions and come together as a community. Participants engaged in a variety of dances while dressed in traditional regalia around three drum circles. The musicians sang along with their music, which was made to represent the heartbeat of Mother Earth. The three drum circles who were performing were Beartown Singers, Summer Cloud Drum and Far Thunders Drum.

The musicians sang and played as the Grand Entry began the powwow. The Grand Entry was led by representatives of the participating tribes who were followed by those who would be participating in the numerous dances to take place in the sacred circular space.

Dancers wore regalia and performed dances which symbolize various things. An example is the Jingle Dress, regalia adorned with small metal cones and is believed to bring healing to those who are ill. The female dancers who wear the dresses dance in zigzag patterns as they keep their hands on their hips.

An example of another dance is the Men’s Woodland, which is a nearly lost wartime victory dance that was resurrected in 2007 by the Forest County Potawatomi. Men performing this dance will wear regalia that feature feathered turbans, bandolier bags and ball-headed war clubs.

Multiple dances took place throughout the day as well as a feast. There were some fun and good-humored events including the “Deadliest Auntie and Uncle Competition”. Organizers explained hat since tribal communities tend to be small, members usually know one another well and the families are very close-knit. People in tribes will often refer to older men as “uncles” and women as “aunties” because of this. The competition had participants show off dance moves and then demonstrate their slickest pickup lines.

KBOCC Dean of Academic Affairs and Interim President Megan Haataja said she was happy to see everyone participating and having fun after all the preparation that went into getting everything ready between KBOCC and Michigan Tech.

“There’s a lot of logistics to putting on big events like this, and to actually see it come together and see as many people that are here and enjoying and participating in this? It makes all the stress worth it,” she said.