Celebrate American Indian culture this weekend at Cal State Long Beach’s 48th Annual Puvungna Pow Wow.
As the largest spring event of its kind in Southern California, the pow wow is not only a display of the campus’ American Indian presence, but a chance to share Native American culture with the larger community through traditional dancing, arts, crafts and food. The two-day event is put on by the American Indian Studies Program, American Indian Student Council, American Indian Student Services among other university groups.
Attendees can try native foods, including mutton and beef stew, Navajo tacos, fry bread and Indian burgers, to be on sale during the event. American Indian vendors will also set up shop to sell traditional and contemporary art. Alongside contests and inter-tribal dancing, there will also be Gourd dancing.
The name Puvungna comes from the ancient village of Puvungna—where CSULB is located— once populated by the Tongva people. In 2016, CSULB officials and local Native American leaders gathered to recognize the reburial of Tongva ancestors. CSULB was one of the first universities to return indigenous ancestors to campus reburial sites under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Local Native American Leaders, CSU Officials Recognize Recent CSULB Ancestral Reburial
The 48th Annual Cal State Long Beach Puvunga Pow Wow will run from 11:00AM to 10:00PM on Saturday and 11:00AM to 6:00PM on Sunday and take place in the Upper Campus Central Quad. Admission and parking are free.
For more information, including the schedule of events and dancer registration, visit the link here.
CSULB is located at 1250 Bellflower Boulevard.