On Friday, November 1, Clark College welcomed the community to its annual POWWOW as it hosted Educating for the Seventh Generation, a celebration of Indigenous cultures in Gaiser Student Center.
It was a family affair for all ages — from toddlers to teens, from young parents to senior grandparents and great-grandparents all reveling in the cherished community event. Vendors set up at tables to sell their crafts, including jewelry, art, and clothing.
First, Native American veterans presented the colors. Next, drummers sitting in a circle on the stage, pounded rhythms and chanted. That was the signal for the dancers. Wearing colorful regalia, dancers moved rhythmically along the floor as the bells on jingle dresses tinkling along with the drums.
Attendees were invited to participate in a round dance, and they jumped in, including Vancouver, Washington mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. A blanket dance was also performed, and the blanket was spread out to collect donations for the college’s Dreamcatcher Scholarship.
Dreamcatcher Scholarship
One highlight of the event is announcing the students who were selected to receive a Dreamcatcher Scholarships. The scholarship is designed to help current and future Clark College students who identify as Native American Indian, Alaska Native, Hawaiian Native or indigenous to the Americas. The Dreamcatcher Scholarship will be awarded from the fund in the name of Becky Archibald and Anna Schmasow for their endless commitment advocating the education for the Seventh Generation.
The 2024 Dreamcatcher Scholarship recipients are:
- Michelle Britz
- Dabai Do Che’
- Kayla Morgan
Scholarship recipient Kayla Morgan said, “I’m from Aniak, Alaska. I proudly embrace my Yup’ik heritage.”
The Clark College student is in her first quarter of the dental hygiene program pursuing her goal to become a dental hygienist.
Morgan said, “The Dreamcatcher Scholarship allows me to pursue this path, providing crucial support as I advance in my education and work toward making a difference in dental health.”
Scholarship recipient Michelle Britz has Tlingit ancestry. She is pursuing an associate in arts degree at Clark College and plans to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree to pursue her career goal of occupational therapist. Britz is a single mother of three young sons. Her oldest son with disabilities has been an influencing factor in her direction of study.
She said, “It’s been amazing seeing him grow and learn from various therapies. I’m very interested in how the mind and body work together. I’ve also always enjoyed helping people. Working with people directly keeps me engaged.”
Britz added, “It feels like I have a mountain in front of me, but I am going to do my absolute best to provide a happy and full childhood for them. Luckily, I have an opportunity to gain a degree that would allow me to help people and still be available for my children in the after-school hours. This scholarship, along with FAFSA, would relieve me and my family of some of the financial stress that tuition presents.”
History of the POWWOW at Clark College
Since 2009, Clark College has celebrated Indigenous cultures during the first weekend of November with a powwow that includes music, dance, food, vendors, honoring of veterans, and the announcement of the Dreamcatcher Scholarship honoring our vision of Educating for the Seventh Generation.
Clark College coordinates and hosts this annual event in honor of Native American Heritage Month. “Educating for the Seventh Generation” references our responsibility to teach the future Seventh Generation to maintain our resources, traditions, and customs. It is the way of caring and preserving for the Seventh Generation, which is a true sustainable practice to consider the impacts of every decision for the next seven generations into the future.
Learn more about Clark’s POWWOW here.
Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent
