Cultural enrichment is a common thread among organizations and programs on Grand Valley State University’s campus. The GVSU Spring Pow Wow, which focuses on Native American culture, adds to this key component at the university.

Although the event is a social gathering aimed at entertainment and fun, it was planned to provide cultural insight, as well. The idea of diversity is another important aspect to the pow wow.

“Diversity enriches the Grand Valley experience and it is appreciated by students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community,” said Karen VanderLaan, a GVSU social work student,

This is the 12th pow wow on GVSU’s Allendale Campus, and the event has gained popularity steadily throughout the years. Also, this annual event has evolved from a smaller-scaled pow wow with one grand entry to a two-day event with two grand entries on Saturday and Sunday. The event now consists of raffles, demonstrations, silent auctions and dance lessons.

“This event is important to the GVSU campus to show that there is a vibrant Native American presence here, although we are a small minority on campus,” said Jamie Granger, president of the Native American Student Association. “It is a LIB 100 event that aims to increase intercultural knowledge and competence.”

Around 250 to 300 people are expected to attend and although some stay the entire time, the event is organized so people can come and go. Of the guests at the event, about half of the attendees will be members of the GVSU community: faculty, staff or students. The rest will most likely be from the local community and the Native American community.

“This year we have been able to expand co-sponsorship of the event to include the Native (American) Student Association, the School of Social Work, the anthropology department and the Inclusion and Equity Division,” said Dee Ann Bosworth, director of Intercultural Training.

Guests can expect to be active members in the event as they view Native American dance and partake during the intertribal dances where people are welcomed to dance regardless of their ethnic backgrounds.

“Watching pow wow dancers in their regalia, smelling the sacred herbs, hearing the singing and feeling the drumming makes for a true immersive experience, one for all of your senses to savor,” VanderLaan added.

The 12th annual Spring Pow Wow will be held this Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Fieldhouse Arena. On Saturday there will be a feast served at 4 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to be donated to the Native American Seniors Meal Program.

“Often we view native cultures as relegated to the past,” said Simone Jonaitis, executive director of Continuing Education at GVSU, “The GVSU Pow Wow helps remind us that native people are present in our community today and it is important we as a university honor and learn from all those in our community. Learning from and being receptive to all cultures is a critical element of GVSU’s focus on inclusion.”

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