Source: Les Hannah, 785-826-2928, ldhannah@k-state.edu

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

K-STATE AT SALINA TO HAVE DIVERSITY POWWOW APRIL 4

SALINA -- Authentic American Indian food, dancing and drums, as well as arts and crafts and a stickball demonstration are among the activities scheduled at Kansas State University at Salina's Diversity Powwow.

The powwow will be Saturday, April 4. Most events are free and the public is invited.

"This event invites the community to experience American Indian culture," said Les Hannah, assistant dean and assistant professor of English at K-State at Salina. Hannah, a Cherokee, is originally from Tahlequah, Okla., home of the headquarters of the Cherokee Nation.

Keynote speaker for the event will be Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Her address will be at 10:30 a.m. in the Conference Room at K-State at Salina's College Center.

Other activities to be offered at the Diversity Powwow include:

* Arts and crafts on display starting at 9:30 a.m. in the College Center's lobby.

* Indian tacos, Indian fry bread, Choctaw casserole and other authentic Indian foods will be available in the College Center cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

* An exhibition of Indian dancing and drums will be at 1 p.m. in the conference room.

* An Indian stickball demonstration will be at 1:30 p.m. outside the College Center.

* Children's activities, including marbles and face painting, will start at 1:30 p.m. in the College Center.

A softball tournament also will be part of the event and will start at 8 a.m. at Salina's Thaemert Field. For more information on how to register for the tournament, contact Danielle Brown at 785-826-2969 or dnbrown@k-state.edu.