Powwow set for Father’s Day weekend in Carson City

The 2015 Stewart Father’s Day Powwow in Carson City is today through Sunday at the Stewart Indian School campus.

Hosted in partnership with the Nevada Indian Commission and the Stewart Father’s Day Powwow Committee, the annual powwow includes quality Native American arts and crafts vendors and is also a time for alumni, former employees, families and friends to gather at the former campus.

Stewart Indian School served as an off-reservation boarding facility from 1890 through 1980, and its stone buildings are an icon of education and life for many American Indians in the West. After the school closed, the buildings were vacated and many became home to state offices. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and comprised of 83 buildings, the site continues to be a cultural center. New legislation allows for a gift fund to receive donations and designates the Indian Commission as the coordinating agency for future uses and activities at the site. Legislative appropriations will assist in the planning and development of the Stewart Indian School Living Legacy initiative.

“This is a very big year for us and we have lots to celebrate with competitive dance and many great cultural experiences at the powwow,” said Sherry Rupert, executive director of the commission. “The State of Nevada Indian Commission is working on preserving the legacy and history through development of the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center that will provide visitors with an impression of the school’s history from 1890 to the 1980 closing. We want people to join us for the celebration and an update on this exciting project.” The Father’s Day event is part of an effort to establish the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center to preserve the site’s history. The Stewart Indian School Trail is a self-guided walking tour of the campus with 20 points of interest and audio stories. Using personal cell phones, visitors can access recorded messages from alumni and employees about their personal experiences at the school. The goal of the “Talking” Trail is to preserve the history and memorabilia of the school, which provided education and vocational skills to American Indian youth who represented more than 200 tribes across the nation.

Powwow proceedings begin with the grand entry at 7 p.m. tonight at 5500 Snyder Ave. in Carson City. Saturday’s ceremonies are at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Sunday’s activities are from noon to 4 p.m. All are invited and welcome to attend the free family event. Indian tacos will be for sale. The powwow is funded, in part, by a grant from the Nevada Commission on Tourism, the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For information, call Rupert or Denise Becker at 775-687-8333, or email dmbecker@nic.nv.gov.