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Bright colors and jingling bells filled the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Berg Gym Saturday, May 3, 2008 during the American Indians Reaching for Opportunities 35th Anniversary Pow Wow.

Bright colors and jingling bells filled the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Berg Gym Saturday, May 3, 2008 during the American Indians Reaching for Opportunities 35th Anniversary Pow Wow.

The Pow Wow is a Native American gathering that cele brates life, family and friends.

“It is a time to come togeth er, a sort of family reunion,” said A.I.R.O president Rory Griffin. “We get together to dance and honor the day and the spirit.”

Representatives from each of Wisconsin's 11 tribes partici pated in drumming, dancing and singing.

Drummers sat in a circle within their separate tribes, beat ing on a large bass drum and chanting a tribal mantra.

Dancers participating in the Pow Wow wore colorful tradi tional tribal regalia to signify which type of dancer they are. The dancers circled around the drums in the middle of the gym, enjoying a mass intertribal dance where everyone performed their own style.

Ages of the dancers ranged from 4 or 5-years-old to the elderly.

“It is a tradition for parents who are dancers to teach their children. It’s a continuation of traditions throughout genera tions,” said Griffin.

The Pow Wow began with a ceremony featuring a parade of dancers led by the U.S. mili tary veterans from each tribe. A presentation of the veterans was then held, giving recognition to veterans as far back as Vietnam to the current Iraqi war.

Following the presentation, a tribal elder came forward to pay tribute to the Creator.

“He was thanking the Creator for the day, the good thoughts and the good feelings of being together as a group,” said Griffin. “He goes on and on about everything in the tradi tion way.”

The Pow Wow then gave way to singing, dancing and socializing, eventually leading to a dinner served at 5:00 p.m. Venders from throughout the state lined the gym, sell ing many hand-made Native American merchandise. The Pow Wow was a culmination of A.I.R.O.’s Native American Week that featured speakers and activities to promote the Native American pride and tribal unity.

“This is such an incredible opportunity for our city, to be able to participate in a tradition that’s been around since prior to the European settlers,” said UW-SP Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Bob Tomlinson.