Clemson to host Tiger Pow-Wow

Published: November 5, 2009

Children of the Boys and Girls Club of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina perform. image by: The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

By Hannah Sykes

CLEMSON — Clemson University will celebrate American Indian Heritage Month at the Tiger Pow-Wow from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the Hendrix Student Center ballrooms. This event is free and open to the public and will include an authentic tribal drum circle, presentations from Clemson faculty and information tables and exhibits.

The Boys and Girls Club of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina will perform a tribal drum circle. The Lumbee reside in North Carolina and take their name from the Lumbee River. At 55,000 members, the tribe is the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River and the ninth-largest tribe in the United States. The Boys and Girls Club travels around the nation educating communities about Lumbee culture and performs at many cultural dances and events.

Three Clemson faculty members will give presentations on Native American-related topics:

• James Jeffries, a visiting assistant professor in the department of history and geography, will discuss Native American history.
• Karen Hall, a lecturer in the department of forestry and natural resources and coordinator of the South Carolina Master Naturalist program, will speak about ethnobotany in the eastern band of Cherokee Indians with an emphasis on medicinal plant use.
• Marjie Britz, a professor of criminal justice, will give a presentation on crime levels in the Native American population.

There also will be information tables and exhibits about American Indian artifacts, crafts and traditional clothing.

“This will be a great event to celebrate the Native American populations,” said Christie Medina, associate director of multicultural programs and services. “There will be members of the Lumbee tribe present who will be able to reflect on their tribe's status within the United States as they fight for full federal recognition.”

Tiger Pow-Wow is sponsored by the Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Center for Student Life, part of Clemson's Division of Student Affairs.

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