Brenna Patrick
Staff Writer
The Native American Cultural Night is in the midst of becoming a reality. It will be held Monday, Nov. 18, in the Pond Student Union Ballroom from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tickets are $7 and will be sold Nov. 13 in the SUB. They can also be purchased in the Native American Resource Cedar Room of the Natural History Museum Building, Room 444.
Proceeds will go towards funding the Miss Native ISU pageant winner, who will receive up to a $500 scholarship, according to Native Americans United President Nolan Brown.
“Community members from Fort Hall as well as ISU students, are welcome to attend the culture night,” Brown said.
Brown said there are currently 556 tribes that currently reside in America. Seven are in Idaho.
Brown is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe.
“It has been a three years since the club had a cultural night”, said Brown, “but the club is excited to be back.”
Brown wants to use the event to shatter popular misconceptions about Native Americans.
“Native American cultures are very strong and vibrant even though the modern perception is the ‘plains image,’” Brown said.
Brown said some do live like the old plains version, referring to when they lived in teepees and rode horses.
“Some tribes live like that but most live in houses, attend college and run their own governments,” Brown said.
At 7 p.m., the Miss Native ISU pageant will begin and will include two rounds of general questions, a round of impromptu questions and a talent presentation.
Brown said the talent portion can include singing, speeches, storytelling, drawings and dancing.
Stew and fry bread will be served.
Historically, stew is a traditional dish for the Native Americans and can have items such as squash, buffalo meat and other items in it. Fry bread is a type of pastry.
November is National Native American Heritage month, so the club will also be showcasing other events through the month.
November 15 will be a “Rock Your Mocc’s” themed day, where ISU students and faculty are encouraged to wear moccasins all day.
Also on Nov. 15, there will be a Native American flash dance at 12:30 p.m. in Rendezvous. Tickets will be sold for the cultural night at this event.
