AMERICAN INDIAN EVENTS at the MAC
The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture is proud of its collaboration with the region's four Northern Plateau Tribes: Colville Confederated, Kalispel, Coeur d'Alene, and Spokane. In addition to exhibits which focus on American Indian culture, history and art and feature objects from the MAC's nationally recognized collections, the Museum also hosts special events which celebrate the tribes' rich culture.
The 17th Annual Friendship Dance
Saturday, March 14th from 10:00-4:00 p.m.
Northern Quest Casino's Pend Orielle Pavilion
The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC) and our American Indian Cultural Council would like to announce our 17th Annual Friendship Dance at the Northern Quest Casino's Pend Orielle Pavilion, Saturday, March 14th from 10:00-4:00 p.m.
We will be honoring tribal education and self-determination at this year's event. This pow-wow will highlight the ongoing tribal perspectives that are so important to our local Native communities. The audience will learn first hand through song and dance their commitment to maintaining cultural programming and their sovereignty.
This special event has been part of the MAC's educational outreach programming for sixteen years. Prior to the creation of MAC's original American Indian Advisory Committee in 1992, Robert Sherwood, Hank Wynne, Jim Wynne and many other Spokane tribal elders put together a pow-wow at the Masonic Temple to showcase traditional Spokane Indian songs and dances. Later other American Indian Advisory Committee members such as Lawrence Arippa (Coeur d'Alene), Richard Mullen (Coeur d'Alene), Francis Cullooyah (Kalispel) and Adeline Fredin (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation) decided that this was to become one of the showcase cultural events that the Museum promoted annually. Ultimately the Friendship Dance expanded to include songs and dances from the Northern Plateau (particularly the tribes that were in closet proximity to historic Spokane Falls) tribes.
This year's event is again being sponsor by the Kalispel, Coeur d'Alene, and Spokane, and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Bonneville Power Administration is also a major sponsor.
Spokane tribal member Gabby Corral will continue to work with Kalispel elder Francis Cullooyah as the Master of Ceremonies. The performers that are participating are: The Frog Island Singers (Kalispel), Iron Spirit (Spokane), Rose Creek Singers (Coeur d'Alene), Tshimikain (Spokane) and Yamncut (Flathead), Coyote Creek (Colville).
For further information you can contact:
Michael Holloman
Director, Center for Plateau Cultural Studies
Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
2316 West First Avenue
Spokane, WA 99204
509 363-5337 Tel
509 363-5303 Fax
www.northwestmuseum.org
4th ANNUAL MAC GOLF CLASSIC
Chief Nanamkin (Wenatchi Tribe) at the opening of
Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane, 1935
The MAC is currently in the planning stages of the 4th Annual MAC Golf Classic, to be held on Friday, September 18, 2009 at the historic and renowned Indian Canyon Golf Course here in Spokane. Dinner and the awards ceremony will follow at the Kalispel Tribe’s Pend Oreille Pavilion located at Northern Quest Casino.
The location of the event at Indian Canyon will highlight a significant part of the traditional homeland of the Spokane Tribe. For many a millennia this forested basalt basin had been a camp site for the indigenous peoples of this area. In the late 1800’s Spokane tribal members were relocated far away from a portion of their traditional homelands at Spokane Falls and Latah Creek to Indian reservations located far from the encroaching non-Indians. One of these landowners did permit the renowned Chief Garry and his family to camp in Indian Canyon, where he remained until his passing in 1892.
Spokane Tribe teepees at Indian Canyon, c. 1900
The importance of this golf tournament is two-fold; a direct interaction with many of the regional Columbia Plateau tribes and the creation of financial support for the Museum’s American Indian collection’s management, exhibitions and educational programming. This tournament’s ongoing success reflects a strong commitment from the local business community, individuals, community organizations and tribal enterprises committed to the advancement of the mission of the Museum’s Center for Plateau Cultural Studies.
One of the highlights every year is the many tribal teams that compete for the MAC Tribal Trophy, recently won by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Indians.
Contact information:
Michael Holloman, Director
U.S. Bank Center for Plateau Cultural Studies
(509) 363-5337
American Indian Events
