NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS CARSON CITY – Former students of the historic Stewart Indian School will be honored at a special recognition ceremony as part of the 2013 “Stewart Father’s Day Pow Wow” in Carson City, June 14 through 16. Hosted in partnership with the Nevada Indian Commission and the Stewart Alumni, the annual powwow includes quality Native American arts and crafts vendors and is also a time for alumni, former employees, families and friends to gather at the former campus.
Stewart Indian School served as an off-reservation boarding facility from 1890 through 1980, and its stone buildings are an icon of education and life for many American Indians in the West. After the school closed, the buildings were vacated and many became home to state offices. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and comprised of 83 buildings, the site continues to be a cultural center.
“Competition dancing, Native American arts and crafts, Indian tacos, drum groups, a princess contest and raffle are all planned, thanks to the volunteer powwow committee, to give the community a sample of Native American heritage, history and pride,” said Sherry Rupert, executive director of the commission.
The Father’s Day event is part of an effort to establish the Stewart Indian Cultural Center to preserve the site’s history. The Stewart Indian School Trail is a self-guided walking tour of the campus with 20 points of interest and audio stories. Using personal cell phones, visitors can access recorded messages from alumni and employees about their personal experiences at the school. The goal of the “Talking” Trail is to preserve the history and memorabilia of the school, which provided education and vocational skills to American Indian youth who represented more than 200 tribes across the nation.
Powwow proceedings begin with the grand entry at 7:00 p.m. Friday. Saturday’s ceremonies are at 1:00 p.m. and again at 7:00 p.m. Sunday’s activities are from noon to 4:00 p.m. All are invited and welcome to attend the free family event. The powwow is funded, in part, by a grant from the Nevada Commission on Tourism, the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. For information, call Sherry Rupert or Chris Gibbons at 775- 687-8333 or e-mail [email protected] or click for information.
