The Page High School Unity Club kicked off its Tenth Annual Unity Pow-wow last weekend in celebration of their mission; “…to foster the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of American Indian and Alaska Native youth and to help build a strong, unified, and self- reliant Native America through greater youth involvement.”

Pow-wow is a way of life and is in itself a ceremony of healing and unity of ‘One Nation’. The Pow-Wow celebrates the unique and indigenous roots within all people from all walks of life. The Unity Club students learn to embrace their differences and how to improve themselves in a manner that will improve the lives of their communities. The hope is they will grow into roles that will one day shape the future.

When the Unity Club at Page High School began to plan the Unity Pow-wow 10 years ago they could only dream of what it has now become. The tenth annual Unity Pow-wow last weekend featured nine drums and hundreds of dancers from every nation across the continent and visitors from countries around the world.

Planning the event rested solely on the 35 students in the Page High Unity Club and the club’s two sponsors, Teresa Robbins and Lino Footracer. The task has grown to a large scale. Planning it is similar to planning a grand, three-day wedding complete with all the trimmings.

The student members plan and vote on every decision. They paint the signs and personally meet with potential donors; they also cook and prepare the food that is sold during the event. Parents, friends and community members lend a hand where they are needed. During the event they monitor security issues and pick up the trash in the stands; they also host the drum groups and tend to their needs and the needs of the drummers families with every respect that is given in Native cultures and ceremonies. The club’s governing members also approve the paperwork and management of the funds. These students prepare months in advance and invest thousands of dollars just in hopes of raising enough to cover the overhead and the trip to the U.N.I.T.Y. conference.
The success also is credited to the host drums groups representing the Northern and Southern respects of the four directions. This year’s Unity Pow-wow invited Canadian group Creek Confederation from Saddle Lake, Alberta Canada to host the Northern Drum; Dakota James, C.J. Hundo Murphy, Slikk Nez, Malcolm Murphy, Wolf Murphy, and Jared Brown. This group was a treat to Page as they brought a style of singing that is rarely seen in the Southern United States.  Arizona’s own Southern Soul from Kayenta hosted the Southern Drum; Rance Redhouse, Darnell Redhouse, Jordon Billsie, Roderick Redhouse, Shawn James and guest singers from the Kiowa Nation, Larry Klien and Ryan Twohatchet. Seven additional drum groups joined the event in hopes of friendly competition and to support the youth. Every drum group sat with a youth member and at least three generations.

The Master of Ceremony was none other than Dennis Bedonie; Arena Director was Michael Little Owl; Head Dancers, Jared Ivins and Erin Hunt; and Head Gourd Dancer was Alan Jim.

A Pow-wow is traditionally held with respect for Unity among all nations and the Page Unity pow-wow has become a growing attraction among the pow-wow circuit. Many dancers and drummers who have been long time supporters have become parents along the way and this year many have introduced pow-wow to their children. Among the pageantry and array of colorful outfits children as young as two months old had taken to the circle for their first time. Drum group, Iron Colt from Red Mesa, Utah was an example of passing the baton to the future of the Native culture. Iron Colt was put together by lead singer, 13-year-old, Dylon Begay and their ages ranged from three to 15 years old. They are mentored by father and uncle Herwin Begay. What was special to the Unity was three-year-old Lennyn Begay who knew when to solo during a song and his pure joy that radiated when he drummed which is exactly the vision of hope for the future that Indigenous cultures pray for. Rylee Begay, 11 years old; Diandre Begay, 14; and Taylor Begay, 15 are included in that vision as well. People gathered around their drum to catch a glimpse of this special group and in hopes of feeling that joy.

This year’s Unity Pow-wow radiated four generations of dancers and drummers symbolic of the hopes of preserving the central theme of a unified nation. Guests from all over the world were in attendance and were not shy to join in on the round dances. Many prayer ceremonies and special requests filled every minute of the weekend taking the Pow-wow into the night hours, which compliments to overall success of the event.

Special attention was given in honor of the servicemen in the American Armed Forces. One notable honor ceremony recognized twelve-year-old Dakota Ross who has been selected to a Civil Air Patrol post in by the Air Force Auxiliary program out of Shonto Preparatory School. Ross will train as a pilot holding an actual position with the Air Force. Blessings and prayers were made for her success.

Unity has a dual meaning to these young men and women of the community; U.N.I.T.Y., which also stands for United National Indian Tribal Youth. The United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. serves the leadership development needs of Native Americans  and Alaska Native Youth communities. The proceeds from the event will go towards the Unity Club’s trip to San Diego, CA to attend the National U.N.I.T.Y Conference. The conference provides five days of peer and leadership workshops and is expected to have over 1,800 students in attendance.

The Unity Club members extend their gratitude to the long list of donors and to all who supported their efforts with their attendance at the pow-wow. The Unity member who will be attending the conference are still accepting donations year round.

For questions or to make a donation contact Teresa Robbins at trobbins@pageud.org.