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My name is Lupe Geronimo. I'm part of the Multicultural Student Union club here on campus. 

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This year, it was a great pleasure to be a part of the 18th annual Pow-Wow

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 as well with my partner Paola Sumoza.

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The Pow-Wow is one expression of living Native American culture. 

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It is a significant way in which American Indian traditions and cultures can be presented 

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to contemporary people, Indians and non-Indians alike. 

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For some, the ceremony and other events may appear to be only a form of entertainment 

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with colorful regalia, drumming, singing, and dancing. 

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But the Pow-Wow is far more than that. It is the reenactment of certain spiritual and emotional aspects of our humanity. 

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Every song, every gesture, every detail of the [unintelligible] illustrates part of our heritage 

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as a people with roots and distant pasts. 

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Through the Pow-Wow we pay respect and honor our forefathers, our elders, families, 

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famous American-Indians, or veterans and events from our history.

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In addition, the Pow-Wow repairs Native American traditions of sharing, hospitality, and generosity.

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It is important to remember the visual enactment of aspects of our culture and traditions reflects

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reverence and respect for our ancestry. 

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It is also a reflection of the human and spiritual bond between us all. 

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We are our heritage and it is extremely important to us as people to keep it alive.

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This is a source of our identity as human beings.

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My name is Paola Sumoza, and I'm the Activities Director for the Multicultural Student Union 

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and the co-coordinator for this year's Pow-Wow. 

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I'm so glad that I would get to be part of this great event that MSU puts out every year.

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Why we put the Pow-Wow. Basically we put it because we educate 

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the community and students about the Native American culture. 

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We want them to really understand the traditions and the costumes, 

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and get a better understanding of a Pow-Wow. 

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We do a Pow-Wow because, I think, it gets them the visual perspective, rather than telling stories. 

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They can understand by seeing the different cultures, the regalia, 

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the drumming, the songs, so it's a great experience to just come and learn and watch.