Native American Speakers' Forum Oct. 23 and Powwow Oct. 24 to be at Michigan Tech

By Marcia Goodrich, Michigan Tech senior writer

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech will showcase Native American culture at its 14th Annual Speakers' Forum Friday, Oct. 23, followed by the Spirit of the Harvest Powwow on Saturday, Oct. 24.

In addition, the 2009 Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year, Crystal Shawanda, will give a concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Rozsa Center.

Speakers' Forum, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23

The Speakers' Forum begins at 10 a.m. in the Rozsa Center with a talk by Jessica Koski, a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). She completed a BS in Social Sciences in May and is now earning a master's in environmental management at Yale University. Koski will discuss how she navigated college as a Native student.

Jessica Koski, Michigan Tech graduate, addresses a large crowd at Eagle Rock near Big Bay, Mich., during the Protect the Earth event on Aug. 2, 2009. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)*

Lowery Begay, a dazzling championship hoop dancer, will perform from 11 a.m. to noon. Begay grew up on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico and Arizona and spent much of his time with his grandparents learning Navajo ways, which are now both his calling and his career.

Lowery has traveled all over the world and is a flutist, artist and fancy dancer, and is currently ranked fourth in the world as a hoop dancer.

Lowery Begay, renowned Navajo hoop dancer, performs during Michigan Tech's 2007 Spirit of the Harvest Speakers' Forum in the Rozsa Center. He returns to perform again at both the Speakers' Forum Oct. 23 and the Spirit of the Harvest Powwow Oct. 24. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Crystal Shawanda, a Canadian country music singer and member of the First Nations Ojibwe band, will give a talk beginning at 1 p.m. Born in Ontario and raised on a reservation on Manitoulin Island, Shawanda has taken the country music world by storm. Her hit single, "You Can Let Go Now," made it into the top 20 on the Billboard Country Music chart.

Shawanda will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Rozsa Center. (See separate article.)

Spirit of the Harvest Powwow, noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24

The Spirit of the Harvest Powwow begins at noon with a grand entry into the Multipurpose Room at Michigan Tech's Student Development Complex.

Featured performers will be Lawrence Williams, head male dancer; Linda Cohen, head female dancer; Robert Voakes, head youth male; Jade Chauder, head youth female; Robert Rajacic, arena director; Four Thunders, host drum; Loon Travelers, invited drums; Donald Chosa, head veteran; the KBIC Honor Guard; and master of ceremonies Stanley Spruce.

Championship dancer Lowery Begay will give a hoop dance and flute exhibition at 1:30 p.m. Begay contributed art used on the powwow posters, and T-shirts with his artwork will be for sale at the powwow.

The pink shawl presentation will be held at 4:30 p.m.

Native food, art and crafts will be available.

The Spirit of the Harvest Powwow and Speakers' Forum are free and open to the public and hosted by Michigan Tech and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. Sponsors include Michigan College/University Partnership, Multicultural Affairs, Student Life, and Institutional Diversity.

For more information, contact Lori Muhlig at 906-487-2920 or at muhlig@mtu.edu.

Editor's Notes: Text of this article courtesy Marcia Goodrich of Tech Today. Reprinted with permission.
* Read more about Jessica Koski in our Aug. 8, 2009, article on the Walk to Eagle Rock.