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MSU prepares for Honor Dance and Powwow Celebration

Submitted Photo Royalty at last year’s Minot State University Spring Honor Dance and Powwow Celebration are, from left to right, Amari LaRocque, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa 2022/2023 powwow princess; SaRai Tso, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation Little Shell 2022/2023 powwow princess; Kolt Brunelle, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa 2022/2023 Jr. Brave; and Nelenah GreyEyes, Miss Spirit Lake Nation 2022/2023 powwow princess. Photo by Rick Heit.

The 34th annual Minot State University Spring Honor Dance and Powwow Celebration is scheduled for Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, in the MSU Dome. The event is free and open to the public.

MSU hosts this large-scale event every year and to do so takes an incredible amount of teamwork.

“It takes a committee,” said Annette Mennem, director of the Native American Center. “There is no way one person could put on such a large event.”

Besides MSU students, Minot Air Force Base and community volunteers, the university has a committee as well. That committee includes MSU vice president of Student Affairs, faculty, staff and students.

A powwow is a celebration of life. It is a time when people of all ages gather to sing, dance, renew old friendships, make new friends and share the beauty of Native people with everyone.

The groups and committees in charge of putting together this year’s powwow also are expanding the event.

“This year’s Spring Honor Dance and Powwow Celebration has expanded into a ‘Celebration Week,'” Mennem said.

“Celebration Week” will include the dedication of Plum River Native Prairie Grassland (former Erik Ramstad Middle School location) on Saturday, April 27, at 11 a.m.

Dancer and drum registration opens Friday, April 26, at 5 p.m. and closes Saturday, April 27, at 12:30 p.m. Grand entry times are 7 p.m. on Friday, April 26, and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.

Charlie Moran is this year’s master of ceremonies. Wade Baker is arena director and Mennem is powwow director.

The MSU Native American Center and Native American Cultural Awareness Club again is hosting the event.

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