Photo by Vincent Schilling Nathan Phillips (pictured) and his wife, Shoshana, and their organization Native Youth Alliance have held the inaugural pow wow and winter dance in Washington, D.C. since 1997. This year though, the American Indian Society of Washington, D.C. members voted for AIS to be in charge. Native Youth Alliance copes with inaugural pow wow adversity
By
Rob Capriccioso
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“We have to continue to battle for health care, sovereignty and justice for all Indian people. We can’t let this setback keep us from spreading goodwill.” – Nathan Phillips |
This year, however, the NYA was not present at the longtime pow wow – by conscious decision after a series of negative events.
Phillips said the day after President Barack Obama won the election, the group received a call from a representative of AIS saying that some of its members had voted that AIS, not NYA, should be in charge of the inaugural pow wow.
Phillips said there were allegations that NYA was not capable of holding such a historic affair, and some worried whether she and her husband, Nathan Phillips, could deal with the finances of the complicated event. At one point, she said, a co-sponsorship deal seemed to be in the making, but it did not happen.
“I think AIS kind of got a little jealous of us,” Nathan said. “We’re just a little, small prayer organization – we’re not about trying to be something big, except for the kids.”
NYA officials chose to have no part of the pow wow. Their name was not on the contract with the hotel where the event was held and they were not in Washington for the inauguration.
Phillips, who is battling incurable bone marrow cancer, said she believes some AIS members may have believed her health complications would prevent NYA from pulling off the event. But she said her cancer is almost in remission and that not being able to coordinate the event actually made her feel worse.
“The pow wow circuit has always been a place of healing for me,” she said. “I think it is for a lot of people. … I certainly wish I would have had that opportunity in January.”
Nathan agrees that pow wows have played a big role in helping his family find strength. After Shoshana was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, he said his family was forced to live out of their car since they didn’t have health insurance. During the darkest times, they would travel from pow wow to pow wow to sustain themselves.
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A history of healing Nathan Phillips, the Omaha co-founder of the Native Youth Alliance, has for more than a dozen years held an annual ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor Native American veterans. The group has also regularly placed a tepee on the National Mall to raise awareness of Native issues. |
“It was hard not being [part of the inaugural pow wow] this year, but it was our protest.”
Nedra Darling, who was in charge of communications for the AIS event, said that efforts were made to include NYA in the celebration. The group was honored during the event and special recognition was made of the group in the pow wow’s official program.
According to the program, AIS and NYA had, for multiple years, been co-sponsoring an inaugural pow wow, but this year, “AIS chose to initiate and sponsor its own pow wow as a permanent part of the organization’s inaugural ball activities.”
The program also noted that NYA has not only coordinated and funded past inaugural pow wows, it has also held prayer vigils on the National Mall and hosted significant gatherings on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Phillips is appreciative of the acknowledgment, but said it did not heal the wounds.
“We feel much how we feel about the mascot issue: You can’t take something that doesn’t belong to you, and then say it’s to honor you,” she said. “It didn’t feel like that honor was coming from the heart.”
Part of the group’s hurt comes out of its longtime efforts to make the event spiritual and filled with pro-Indian activism. Nathan, who is of Omaha descent, said NYA was originally incorporated as a spiritual – not social – organization.
This year, NYA had plans to honor the Big Foot Memorial Riders, accompanied by the Porcupine Singers, one of the oldest drum groups in the nation. The riders are well-known for making a yearly tribute to Lakotas who died at the infamous Wounded Knee massacre.
“The most disappointing part of this for me is that we didn’t have the opportunity to get word out about all the people we wanted to honor,” he said. “We believe that this pow wow is a place of prayer. We were not able to have our way of prayer this year.”
NYA officials said they have been stewards of the event through difficult times, including during President George W. Bush’s two inaugurations when some Native folks were not supportive of the pow wow because they disagreed with his policies.
Nathan said the organization has soldiered on since the inaugural misgivings. “We have to continue to battle for health care, sovereignty and justice for all Indian people. We can’t let this setback keep us from spreading goodwill.”
NYA held a separate inaugural pow wow in D.C. May 23 as part of its May Dayz events. The event, he said, was held in the same spirit as past pow wows, and included prayers and activism. “It’s better late than never; and we will be holding more pow wows in Washington, D.C. in the years to come.”
The organization can be reached by e-mail at NativeYouthAlliance@yahoo.com or by phone at (734)323-0762.
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Monday, Mar 8 at 9:32 PM Anonymous wrote ...
That last comment said it all!!! Aho aho...It seems as though there could have been more of a working together and compromise in this situation instead of an all out take over from NYA I have seen all the hard work these people have done over the years and they barley get by.I as a Native person appreciate what the NYA is all about.Winona Alexis
38896541Tuesday, Jan 26 at 10:27 AM NYA wrote ...
For more information on Native Youth Alliance, check out www.nativeyouthalliance.blogspot.com.
36379167Tuesday, Dec 22 at 3:59 AM Henry Guzman Villalobos (Aztec-Yaqui) wrote ...
The Ancient Homeland of the Aztec Native Americans, is the present-day Great Salt Lake, Utah. The Native language of the Aztecs is called Nahuatl. Circa 300 B.C., the Anasazi from the state of Utah, were a Nahuatl speaking people like the Aztecs. The Aztecs are the descendants of the Ancient Anasazi.
34129616Tuesday, Dec 8 at 11:36 PM kahtni, Michigan wrote ...
I'm sorry,let me clarify. It wasn't the article I was criticizing but rather the comments after. Considering Freedom of Speech and each of us entitled to our own opinion the article was a good representation of the writer's viewpoint. The comments after were disheartening to me--and all seemingly made by tribal people. So sad. FYI, for those of you who need to know, I am full blood Odawa from Michigan.
33344689Tuesday, Dec 8 at 11:18 PM kahtni, Michigan wrote ...
What a shame. We have so many others tearing us down--why must tribal people feel the need to turn on each other. Since the first step foreigners took on our traditional lands we have been made out to be uncivilized, backwards, and unable to "care" for ourselves. Why must we act like a pack of wild dogs in a fight, attacking each other without realizing that the "enemy" stepped back to watch us tear each other apart. This kind of behavior explains intergenerational trauma. It's time to heal.
33343699Wednesday, Oct 7 at 5:59 PM Felicia PHILLIPS wrote ...
my uncle and aunt are trying their best to uphold and continue our beliefs and traditions. which is more than i can say for those critisizing and pointing fingers. And to set the record straight my uncle is an enrolled member-15/16 of the Omaha Tribe, how about you? I am from Nebraska and will be attending the pow wow, if you dont agree with what they are doing, dont go and be quiet.
30266779Friday, Oct 2 at 8:10 PM An NYA Member wrote ...
A comment made uses the author's use of the word "descent" seemingly to imply that the Phillips do not have a right to these traditional/spiritual ways, and so neither does NYA. Just to be clear, the Phillips are an Omaha family and NYA is a Native organization. NYA has held this dance every year since 1997, not just as an Inaugural event, even for 2 Bush terms when no one wanted to support it; AIS took it over only when it was ea$y and “historic.”
30050714Sunday, Sep 27 at 2:55 PM Pow Wow Dancer wrote ...
RE: Whatever: The history of the pow wow is that it originated more than 200 years ago with the Omaha Nation as a spiritual ceremony. (Read The Omaha Tribe by Fletcher & LaFlesche)Unfortunately, those who have taken it have not always kept this purpose. I applaud all those who continue pow wows in the spiritual manner in which they orignated, and I too say thank you to NYA for staying true to the real spirit of the so-called pow wow.
29749187Sunday, Sep 27 at 2:23 PM ndn from the west wrote ...
Check-out this YouTube video of Shoshana Phillips powwow called “Heritage of Healing” and you will understand why the AIS took the Inaugeral powwow away from them. Keep in mind, the the Phillips are Omaha DESCENT. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3mo4IK6SGw
29748002Friday, Sep 25 at 1:12 PM nya_dc wrote ...
Before holding this pow wow, NYA had held close to a dozen dances in the DC area, most notably completing a four-year commitment to an Honor the Youth Pow Wow. Also, the Inaugural Pow Wow in 1997 began as plans to hold a dinner for youth visiting from the West for the Inaugural events.
29663424Tuesday, Sep 8 at 4:49 PM Former AIS Member wrote ...
I think it's a shame that AIS is being made to seem like the big bad wolf here. AIS is not perfect but they do a whole lot for American Indian people in Washingon, DC and the surrounding area's. For a group called NYA, the only youth I've ever seen with the Phillips have been their own children.
28888611Wednesday, Aug 19 at 7:27 PM Whatever wrote ...
I just wanted to quote the article "Nathan, who is of Omaha descent, said NYA was originally incorporated as a spiritual – not social – organization." Pow wows are social, ceremonies are for spiritualness. This was my fourth Ball and the ball and powwow were great. This year the powwow was bigger than its ever been. Many people from all across the nation attened, not just locals.Perhaps you should get AIS's point of view/side of their story before you make judgment.
27981439Wednesday, Jul 1 at 10:08 AM HonorNYA wrote ...
We have always had a lot of respect for Nathan, his family and NYA. It's sad to read what AIS has done to them. The Phillips and NYA will continue to be in our prayers and they have our support always. AIS, you should be ashamed.
25238109Monday, Jun 22 at 8:34 AM nya_dc wrote ...
Just a few points of clarification: AIS had a tradtitional "verbal" agreement with Native Youth Alliance that NYA had the space for the pow wow. However, since that agreement was not on paper, AIS felt they had a right to break it. Also, AIS only once in 12 years co-sponsored this pow wow, and that was in 2001. And Shoshana's cancer went undiagnosed from 2001 to 2006. Receiving treatment since July 2006.
24223324Monday, Jun 8 at 10:44 AM stinger wrote ...
in my opionion, the BIG society people should just leave the little indingeous people alone. for instance i didnt like the denver march pow0wow or the gathering, both a complete turnoff to me and my traditional family, because of to much commericaliziam..what a bunc of fake people!! Lita and her band.
23390672Sunday, Jun 7 at 11:27 AM TooBad wrote ...
After taking over the work done by NYA, I at least hope that AIS got to rub elbows with all the important people in DC. I hope they got to hob knob with politicians, makes showy displays to impress the DC elite and tap into funding pools that will allow them to make a good living off this powwow. After all, isn't that the norm for so many self appointed indian leaders out there? I want to say "Thank you" to NYA for trying to stay true to the real spirit of the so called powwow.
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