Native American Research, Culture Exposition planned

In honor of Native American Awareness Month, the Washington State University Graduate and Professional Student Association and the Plateau Center for American Indian Studies will host a Native American Research and Culture Exposition Nov. 15.

The expo is set for 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Compton Union Building Ballroom on the Pullman campus. The registration deadline is Nov. 7. Online registration is available at http://libarts.wsu.edu/plateaucenter/registration-form.pdf. More information about the exposition is available by calling (509) 335-3936.

“Anyone involved in research, study or appreciation of American Indian people is invited to participate,” said Ron Pond, interim director, Plateau Center for American Indian Studies. “We wish to extend a special invitation to WSU and UI Native American students to share information about their own cultures.”

According to Pond, the event at WSU is intended to inform the WSU and surrounding communities about the history and culture of America’s indigenous people and the work of WSU and University of Idaho faculty, staff and students that relates to Native Americans. “All forms of participation are encouraged. We hope to see book and article displays,research posters, art works, music, poetry, films and more,” Pond said.

Four cultural performances are confirmed for the exposition, including native performers from the Umatilla Indian Reservation, a native student from Alaska, a student from the Northwest Coast and a doctoral student from an Apache tribe.

The Plateau Center for American Indian Studies at WSU is the only one of its kind in the country to focus on research and cultural preservation of the tribes of the Plateau Region.