Members of the Native American Student Association held a special dance demonstration early Wednesday afternoon, sharing with University students their passion for Native American heritage in Louisiana that holds thousands of years of rich history and tradition.
In front of the Student Union, Native American performers costumed in bright colors, beaded jewelry and feathered attachments danced and chanted as members of the community stopped to take in the festive scene.
The participants came from a mix of tribes both native to Louisiana and not, including the Coushatta, Oglala Sioux, United Houma Nations and Ojibwe tribes.
The NASA waited until late in the semester to hold its signature event because November is Native American History Month. Digital art and design senior and NASA president Skye Byrd said the dancing was an effective way to grab the attention of students.
“We really want to honor Native American History Month,” Byrd said. “Many people may not even know there is such a thing, and this activity brings awareness that we are here.”
Byrd, whose heritage is traced to the Coushatta tribe of southwestern Louisiana, said the dancing shown Wednesday was pow-wow style, a type designed specifically for social gatherings to show people they are welcome.
“A pow-wow is about getting people together who you might not get to see that much,” Byrd said. “The NASA is not just for Native Americans — it is for anyone who wants to join and learn more.”
Accounting senior and NASA vice president Emily Stretcher said these dance demonstrations are important for reminding others that Native Americans are still culturally relevant.
“Native American culture is such a huge part of America,” Stretcher said. “These cultures have been here for thousands of years before anyone else got here, and they should be kept alive so we can preserve history.”
Byrd said while the dancing is partly done to raise awareness of Native American culture on campus, it also preserves traditions that have been passed down for generations.
“Our language, our culture [and] our traditions all need to be preserved so we can teach our children like our parents and grandparents taught us,” Byrd said. “If we let traditions like dancing die out, then we will spiritually lose who we are.”

Gallery • 22 Photos

Angela Major

A dancer performs Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013 at the Native American Dance Demo in Free Speech Plaza.