Powwow is a Chance for Education
Margo Mosher
Issue date: 9/27/05 Section: News
Josh Bedard's father does not know how old he is. He was not given a birth certificate or Social Security Number; he technically does not exist. He only knows that he was born on a reservation of his tribe, the Nez Perce, and given the name Longstar. His son cautions, "As soon as you forget the past, you have no future."
To prevent forgetting people, their culture and their history, Native Americans from various tribes took part in the powwow sponsored by UNH this past weekend. The two teepees, the faint beat of drums and brightly dressed Native Americans dancing seemed like a celebratory scene from a few centuries ago. However, this annual powwow was not only a celebration, but an opportunity for education and awareness.
Adorned in brightly colored traditional regalia of feathers, beads and furs, Bedard joins in some of the traditional dancing around the drum players, the bells on his feet jingling with each step. When he's not dancing, he is walking around to the different vendors and starting up conversation with people attending the event.
"It doesn't matter what brings you to the powwow," he says. "Whatever brings people, once you come in, I am going to educate you."
Bedard, of Rochester, plans to study law at Dartmouth College to help his people get the rights they deserve. He is passionate about spreading the truth about his culture. "I want people to understand that our traditions are beautiful, that we don't scalp people, that we're not savages."
These issues may sound like ones of the past, but Bedard says that today, there are more struggles than ever facing Native Americans.
"People act like we're gone. The government does not recognize nearly half of our tribes," says Bedard.
Bedard's tribe lives in the Washington-Oregon area on reservations. Most are without running water and electricity, he says.
"We do not choose to live this way. We simply want our basic human rights, and they are constantly being taken away."
To prevent forgetting people, their culture and their history, Native Americans from various tribes took part in the powwow sponsored by UNH this past weekend. The two teepees, the faint beat of drums and brightly dressed Native Americans dancing seemed like a celebratory scene from a few centuries ago. However, this annual powwow was not only a celebration, but an opportunity for education and awareness.
Adorned in brightly colored traditional regalia of feathers, beads and furs, Bedard joins in some of the traditional dancing around the drum players, the bells on his feet jingling with each step. When he's not dancing, he is walking around to the different vendors and starting up conversation with people attending the event.
"It doesn't matter what brings you to the powwow," he says. "Whatever brings people, once you come in, I am going to educate you."
Bedard, of Rochester, plans to study law at Dartmouth College to help his people get the rights they deserve. He is passionate about spreading the truth about his culture. "I want people to understand that our traditions are beautiful, that we don't scalp people, that we're not savages."
These issues may sound like ones of the past, but Bedard says that today, there are more struggles than ever facing Native Americans.
"People act like we're gone. The government does not recognize nearly half of our tribes," says Bedard.
Bedard's tribe lives in the Washington-Oregon area on reservations. Most are without running water and electricity, he says.
"We do not choose to live this way. We simply want our basic human rights, and they are constantly being taken away."
