The Redwood Coast community is invited to the first HSU California Big Time and Social Gathering, featuring traditional Tolowa, Pomo and Aztec dancers and bird singers from Alaska, Arizona, California and Washington State. The festivities will include American Indian arts and crafts, Native American food and entertaining storytellers. Traditional regalia, or medicine, used in sacred ceremonies will grace the gathering. Recording and photography will be banned to preserve the solemnity of the occasion. Activities Friday evening are scheduled from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Saturday’s performances start at noon.
The event is a collaboration of the University’s Native American Studies/Ensuring Native Inherent Traditions Club and the MultiCultural Center. Club Vice President Priscella Camacho, the celebration’s co-coordinator, says, “The Big Time and Social Gathering is a crucial cultural component for our campus and local community. Native and Non-Native students, the Native American Studies Department and all of our Native programs at HSU are proud to be who we are. This event is one way of sharing ourselves. As part of the club’s mission, we are here to “Ensure Native Inherent Traditions” continue on the HSU campus, now and in the future.”
This event is free to the public, but donations are welcome. Vendors and volunteers are being sought and details are available at http://www.humboldt.edu/~nasenit/. Volunteers are invited to contact Mona Mazzotti, the MultiCultural Center’s Outreach & Social Justice Programs Coordinator, at 707/826-3369 or mmazzotti@humboldt.edu. Information about the Center is at http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/multicultural/.