2020 Gumbo Final - Book - Page 89
NASO
L
LSU Native American Student Organization
to bring back powwow, increase awareness
of Native American culture
SU’s Native American Student Organization is
aiming to increase the University’s awareness
and appreciation of Native American culture on
campus, beginning by planning a return of the
organization’s annual powwow. Communication
disorders junior and NASO President Shea
Ferguson said powwows are important in terms of
spirituality and camaraderie for Native American
tribes.
Story: Charles Fiske
Photo: Shea Ferguson
Design: Mariah Graham
“A powwow is a time for Native American dance
and culture exchange,” Ferguson said. “You
would typically have a circular dance pattern,
and in the middle there’s drummers and singers.”
Native Americans make up less than 1% of the
University’s undergraduate student population.
There are just 102 American Indian and Alaskan
Native undergraduate students at the University,
according to the 2019 LSU Fall Facts.
shed light on the prominent history of Native
American culture and the omnipresent foothold it
has on the state of Louisiana.
Ferguson also said the Student Senate has shown
interest in the powwow’s return, and could be a
key resource in obtaining funding and even local
business sponsorships for the event. “We do
think that people will support us,” Ferguson said.
“We just have to make enough noise.” NASO’s
efforts come at an exciting time for the University
and its Native American history. Recent studies
conducted by the LSU Geology Department
suggest that the Indian Mounds on the corner
of Cypress and Field House Drive could be the
oldest manmade structures in the world.
“It’s very underrepresented, but I will tell you
that Native American students are typically firstgeneration students,” Ferguson said. Ferguson
also said many of the first-generation students
grew up on reservations, which she described
as “insular.” She said transitioning to a diverse
college campus can be difficult due to the way
these students were raised.
Following the release of this groundbreaking
research, NASO submitted a Letter to the Editor
of the Reveille that discussed its plans to work
with the University to preserve the Indian Mounds.
“NASO has been attempting to put together, in
partnership with the school, [better security for
the Indian Mounds], but this can only get done
with awareness and involvement,” the statement
said. “NASO needs more recognition and
acknowledgement from the school so we can get
the security for the mounds that they deserve.”
The last NASO powwow was in 2014. However,
after many of the organization’s members
graduated, NASO lost traction at the University.
“There aren’t enough records to say what
happened,” Ferguson said. “I just know that I’m
here now, so I’m going to try to get it back.” Over
the past few semesters, Ferguson and other
NASO officers have made a concerted effort to
NASO intends to host the powwow in April.
The organization has received support from the
LSU Agricultural College to find a location for
the event. Ferguson hopes that revitalizing this
practice on campus will provide the entire student
body with a glimpse into the beautiful and storied
history of Native Americans who have called
Louisiana home for so long.
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