Missoula County Public Schools to Host Native Youth Pow-wow Saturday

The Missoula County Public Schools Indian Education department will host the annual Native Youth Pow-wow on Saturday, March 15, at C.S. Porter Middle School.MCPS Native American Specialists Glenda Weasel and Avis Chenoweth said the event is a central element in the Indian Education curriculum, giving all students an experience in Indian American cultural heritage:

"We are going to of course have the pow-wow, and we're going to have a dance contest," Chenoweth said. "We have an announcer, a host drum, and we're going to have vendors there. We're going to be selling raffle to promote the pow-wow. Any money that we make will go back into the Native Youth Pow-wow."

Chenoweth said the event is free and open to the public, and MCPS welcomes everyone to experience a rich part of Montana's cultural heritage. 

"At the first grand entry at 1 p.m., we are going to be honoring all of the Missoula County Public Schools ABIL students," Chenoweth said. "ABIL stands for American Indian Business Leaders. At the 7 p.m. grand entry, we are going to be honoring all of the Missoula County Public Schools Native American seniors."

“We are excited to offer this Pow-wow for our community and every year we see so many families turn out and have a great time together,” Weasel said. “It really helps anchor a lot of what we are learning in a real experience and allows students from across the state to participate in drumming, dancing and traditional rituals central to American Indian experience."