by Nancy Sep£lveda
Daily Lobo
Student Jovita Belgarde loves to powwow.
"It's so energizing, with all the drumming and dancing and singing," she said.
Belgarde helped organize a powwow for Nizhoni Days, a 10-day American-Indian festival. ----
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"It's an opportunity to share our Native traditions with the campus community," she said. "It helps us keep our culture alive."
Nizhoni is a Navajo word for beautiful.
Nizhoni Days begins today and ends with the Honoring Our Alumni Powwow on April 29 on Johnson Field.
Events include a music concert, Native filmmaker showcase, hair-braiding contest, Indian taco sale and the Miss Indian UNM pageant.
"Each event ties into a different aspect of Native life, and each offers something we can take hold of and utilize," said Jaycee Beyale, vice president of UNM's Kiva Club, which organized the events.
American-Indian student organizations play an important role in the success of Nizhoni Days, said Pamela Agoyo, director of American-Indian Student Services.
"Providing the UNM campus an opportunity to experience events and cultural programming that our Native student organizations work so hard on is an accomplishment," she said.
The events help the University celebrate its diversity, Agoyo said.
"It's important to have Nizhoni Days at UNM because of the potential for the rich exchange that can occur when students, staff and faculty engage in learning about a culture that may be different from their own," she said.
Nizhoni Days has been held for the past 52 years.
"Certain events are held annually, but each year, we try to present something new and relevant," Beyale said.
The selection of guest speakers is important, Belgarde said.
"We always bring positive, influential Native people to speak," she said. "It's important to raise campus awareness about Native issues in the community and nation."
American-Indian students face the same challenges in college as other students, but they also have unique issues to deal with, Belgarde said.
"We have to find ways to hold on to our cultural identity in a higher-education environment," she said. "It can be difficult."
People should realize that each American-Indian tribe has its own traditions and heritage, Beyale said.
"All Native cultures are different from each other," he said. "This week is our chance to learn more about each group."
Nizhoni Days events are open to all students and community members.
"It's a fun and inviting atmosphere for everybody, not just Native people," Beyale said. "It's all about respecting and honoring our different backgrounds and beliefs."
Nizhoni Days
Through April 29
All events are free and open to the public.
Friday
Native Filmmaker Showcase
SUB, Southwest Film Center, 1-5 p.m.
Saturday
Sin Fronteras Film Festival
City on the Hill Theater
3007 Central Ave. N.E., 1-10 p.m.
Monday
2007 Miss Indian UNM Pageant
SUB Ballroom C, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Lecture and Performance by Native musician Tom Bee
Zimmerman Library, Willard Reading Room, 3-5 p.m.
Wednesday
Mutton King Contest
Mesa Vista Hall, East Courtyard, 3-5 p.m.
Thursday
American-Indian Junior Day
Johnson Center, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Indian taco sale
Mesa Vista Hall, West Courtyard, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Premiere viewing of film "Weaving Worlds"
SUB Ballroom C, 6 p.m.
April 27
Native Xperience Concert
SUB Ballroom C, 6-11 p.m.
April 29
Honoring Our Alumni Powwow
Johnson Field, noon-7 p.m.
For more info, contact the Kiva club
at 277-7236 or Kiva@unm.edu
