SRU’s Native American Day celebrates traditions
Traditional Native-American dance will be showcased when Slippery Rock University offers its annual Native American Celebration Day from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 31, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. The Three Rivers American Indian Center will also present singing, drumming, crafts and storytelling.
March 28, 2016
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Native-American dance, storytelling, drumming and craft making will be offered as part of Slippery Rock University's annual Native American Celebration Day from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 31, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.
The Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center will present. Frederick White, SRU associate professor of English, is program director.
Storytelling, with presenters in traditional dress, will be offered at 10 a.m.
Attendees will have an opportunity to make their own Dream Catcher at 10:30 a.m. According to Dream-Catchers.org, "Dream catchers are one of the most fascinating traditions of Native Americans. The traditional dream catcher was intended to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams, while letting positive dreams through. The positive dreams would slip through the hole in the center of the dream catcher, and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below. The negative dreams would get caught up in the web, and expire when the first rays of the sun struck them. The dream catcher has been a part of Native American culture for generations."
Dancing, singing and drumming sessions are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. "Appearance, Gender and Culture Expression" will be offered at 12:30 p.m., followed by "Native American Ponderings of Four Words" at 2 p.m.
Native American art, jewelry and artifacts will be displayed and available to purchase through out the day.
Pittsburgh's Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center was established in 1969 to provide the opportunity for Native Americans to share their culture and values and to provide education to improve the quality of life and elevate economic status. SRU has partnered with the council for an annual celebration day since 2006.
SRU's College of Liberal Arts, College of Health, Environment and Science, the College of Education and the departments of elementary education and history are supporting the campus Native American Celebration Day.
MEDIA CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine | 724.738.4854 | gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu