Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

This content was published: January 16, 2014. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.

PCC celebrates 15th Winter Powwow in January

Photos and Story by

Portland Community College’s annual celebration of Native American culture and tradition is returning to the Sylvania Campus this January.

A scene from last year's Winter Powwow at the Sylvania Campus.

A scene from last year’s Winter Powwow at the Sylvania Campus.

More than 1,000 attendees are expected for the 15th annual “Wacipi” (”They Dance”) Winter Powwow slated for noon to 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, in the Health Technology Building, Sylvania Campus (12000 SW 49th Ave.). The powwow will feature drum groups and dancers from across the region, Native American crafts and food, activities for children, and raffle prizes. This event is free and open to the public. Parking is also free.

The grand entries (dancing and drumming) are at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and the free community dinner gets underway at 5:30 p.m. In addition, a college fair will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Master of Ceremonies Bob Tom (Confederated Tribes of Siletz and Grand Ronde) and Whip Man Ed Goodell (Confederated Tribes of Siletz) will run the proceedings. The event’s Color Guard will be the Northwest Indian Veterans Association.

Proceeds from the powwow support the Native American Student Scholarship, which aims to increase access and retention of Native American students at PCC. This event is sponsored by the college’s Sylvania Campus president, powwow planning committee, Sylvania Multicultural Center, Sylvania Women’s Resource Center and the Native American Rehabilitation Association.

About James Hill

James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »