By YASSER MARTE | The CUJ

PENDLETON — At Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC), students are bringing tradition to campus with a Spring Powwow celebrating Native culture, art and community.

The community powwow is scheduled for May 3 at the McCrae Athletic Center on the BMCC campus in Pendleton. The event is being led by the Native American Student Alliance (NASA), a student-led organization coordinating the cultural event.

The powwow will feature two grand entries at noon and 7 p.m., with dance contests in all categories: traditional jingle, fancy, traditional grass and combined golden-age divisions for men and women. Dancers of all ages may compete in appropriate divisions, including juniors, teens, adults and golden-age participants, with registration available the day of the event. 

Joining the powwow as the host drum is Buffalo Trail of Wapato, Washington.

Shaundeen Smith, a Tribal navigator at BMCC for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), helps Tribal students navigate their educational journeys. In her role, she helps students achieve their academic goals. While building strong relationships with the college, Smith helps students feel welcomed and respected on campus.

“The college supports us, we support the college and we support all the students,” she said.

Smith said that BMCC has about 71 Tribal students, a self-reported number that includes CTUIR members, other Tribal members, Alaskan Natives and online students. Of these, she noted, roughly 30 are known to be CTUIR members.

Regarding the powwow, Smith said the event aims to highlight the relationship between CTUIR and the college. 

“A lot of people don’t know much about Native Americans, not just at the college, but anywhere,” she said. “The free, public event will help share that knowledge. It will teach people things they otherwise might not know.”

So far, six vendors have registered, including participants from New Mexico, Kansas, Washington and Oregon. They will sell arts and crafts, snow cones and coffee from Mission-based food truck Rez Roast. Organizers hope to add more vendors as promotion of the event continues.

To support the event, Smith said the group has raised funds through a spaghetti dinner last November that served more than 100 plates and by operating the concession stand at recent BMCC boys’ and girls’ basketball games against Wenatchee Valley. Both efforts, she added, drew strong community support.

In addition, Smith shared her personal experience with powwows, saying she has been dancing since she could walk and grew up traveling to powwows across the country.

“When you travel from North Dakota to Kansas or New Mexico, you meet people who become lifelong connections,” she said. “Once you have that relationship, it becomes another form of family.”

She also expressed that dancing and designing your own regalia showcase personal expression.

“Not everyone has the ability to make an outfit or dance,” Smith said. “When you dance, you show who you are as a Native person—your family, your designs, your colors, and even your dance style. Different areas of the U.S. have different styles, and that diversity will be showcased here.”

Highlighting the significance of music, Smith said many songs are passed down through generations and that the powwow celebrates “good feelings and good vibes.”

Vendors register and information

Applications remain open for indoor arts, crafts and apparel vendors, as well as outdoor food and beverage vendors. Each vendor booth costs $200, payable by March 3, 2026, by check or cashier’s check (no cash). Payments should be made to the BMCC NASA Club with “Powwow Vendor Fee” in the memo line. Vendors will be notified by phone or email if they are selected and will receive additional details as the event approaches.

Set-up is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. on May 3, and clean-up is from 9–11 p.m.

Indoor booth spaces are 10-by-10 feet and include a table and two chairs upon request. Vendors may also bring their own tables and chairs. Access to electricity is limited.

Outdoor food and beverage vendors must be self-contained and bring all necessary equipment, including tents, tables, chairs, and a grease mat. Electricity and water are limited; vendors should bring extension cords, power generators, and water supplies if needed. Food vendors must indicate menu items on their application to determine if a Temporary Restaurant License from Umatilla County Public Health is required. At least one person with an Oregon food handler card must be present at each food booth during operation.

For more information or to apply, contact the Native American Student Alliance Club at Nativeclub@bluecc.edu or call 541-278-5935. Applications are also available online via this Google Form.