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B2 MARCH 28, 2011 washtenawvoice.

com DIVERSIONS
DANCING TO THE BEAT OF
A DIFFERENT DRUMMER
The pulse oI drumming, the wail oI
Native American songs and the jangling
oI dancers` bells flled the feld house re
cently at Saline Middle School.
The University oI Michigan Native
American Student Association hosted
the 39th Annual Dance Ior Mother Earth
Powwow on March 19-20, as it has Ior
decades. But for the last three years it
had been held off campus in Saline be
cause of controversy about university
holdingsofnativeartifacts.
Powwowsprovideanopportunityfor
indigenous people to meet socially and
celebrate their shared heritage. In addi
tion, they allow non-natives to experience
the culture oI America`s frst residents.
A powwow begins with a grand entry,
led by carriers bearing eagle staffs rep
resenting various tribes and fags oI the
United States and its armed Iorces. Danc
ers in Native American regalia Iollow.
'Drums, groups oI male singers who
sit in a circle and beat a drum in unison,
provide songs Ior the dances. Most songs
are sung with sounds called 'vocables,
rather than words. Many kinds oI dances
are perIormed including 'inter-tribals
when all in attendance are invited to join.
Patricia Bugg, an
Ojibway from Red
Lake, Minn., dances
at the powwow.
Emanuel Poler, Mole
Lake Band of the Lake
Superior Ojibway from
Crandon, Wis., dem-
onstrates the unique
dance style taught to
him by an older Ojib-
way mentor. Poler was
the head dancer at the
powwow.
Above: Shane Cameron, 9, of the Oneida tribe, from
Toronto, Canada demonstrates his practiced style at
he powwow. Right: Trappers and native artisans sell
their wares at the Ann Arbor Dance for Mother Earth.
The grand entry for
the 39th Dance for
Mother Earth Pow-
wow is led by stan-
dard bearers. Most
of them are U.S.
military veterans.
ROBERTCONRADI
Photo Editor
ONLINE
CONTENT
2012 Michigan Community College Press Association Judging Form

Place of award:

HONORABLE MENTION

Category: 19 photo essay

Headline/title of entry: THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUMMER

Contestants name: BOB CONRADI

College name: WASHTENAW CC


Judges comments:

Yet another solid photo presentation by The Voice staff, which appears to have a
good handle on photography! Bob captures the essence of a Native American
presentation at Saline Middle School. This is a black-and-white presentation, but
despite the lack of color, it is well photographed and equally well designed and
laid out. Voice staff knows how to use good images play em big when they
deserve it. Accompanied by solid, short story, this presentation comes together
very professionally. Nice use of white space through the cropping of the photos
and the ragging of the cutlines. Wish I could have seen this in color, but we cant
have everything and this B&W works fine!

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