Moscow and the UI will host a national
      conference for Native Americans

      
By Yvonne M. Wingett
    Argonaut Staff

      

      
Miss
      Tutxinmepu Pow-Wow Queen 1999-2000, UI sophomore Shantelle Scott,
      will give up her crown Saturday at the annual Tutxinmepu Pow-Wow.

      


      In celebration of National Native American Heritage Month, Scott,
      a Nez Perce from Lapwai, will participate in University of Idaho's
      Native American Student Association's national conference and
      an intertribal pow-wow.

      


      The $20,000 conference, entitled "Visions of Education for
      the 21st Century Conference: Facing the Challenges of cultural
      and Tribal Sovereignty," will begin Wednesday and end Friday.
      

      


      Renee Walker, a Navajo from Lapwai, and NASA president, said
      Native American tribes of Yakima, Coeur d' Alene, Nez Perce,
      Blackfoot, and Shoshone-Bannock, among many others, will attend
      the conference. 

      


      The conference will spotlight notable speakers such as Rebecca
      Tsosie, a law professor and executive director of the Indian
      Legal Program at Arizona State University and David Hurst Thomas,
      an anthropology curator of the American Museum of Natural History
      in New York City. 

      


      In an effort to recruit and retain Native American students,
      the UI and 10 Inland-Northwest tribes will sign a Memorandum
      of Understanding. Hal Godwin, UI vice president of student affairs,
      said the MOU is a symbolic agreement to foster a solid relationship
      between Native American tribes and UI. 

      


      "We have a long history of working with tribes in research
      and teaching. We will sign this contract in hopes of strengthening
      that relationship," Godwin said.

      


      UI administration wants to see enrollment of UI Native American
      students to increase. He hopes the MOU will encourage this, Godwin
      said.

      


      Walker said the conference represents a turning point for the
      organization. "This particular group of students [NASA members]
      has set a milestone for not only the organization, but for the
      University," Walker said. 

      


      Walker and Dr. Rodney Fry, a UI anthropology professor, wrote
      a grant to the Idaho Humanities Council, in search for financial
      support of the conference. NASA was awarded approximately $18,000.
      The College of Business and Economics, College of Letters and
      Science, and the Office of the President also supported the conference
      financially.

      


      The Tutxinmepu Pow-Wow, which costs an estimated $20,000, was
      funded in part by the City of Moscow, UI Office of Multicultural
      Affairs, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and
      Clearwater River Casino. It will be the first time since 1979
      that the pow-wow will be held at the ASUI Kibbie Dome. NASA is
      prepared to accommodate about 2,000 guests and participants for
      the event. She said they expect tribes from as far as Saskatchewan
      to participate in the event.

      


      Walker said NASA is encouraged by the high level of support for
      both events. "We received major support from everyone, it
      was really incredible."

      


      Walker hopes the national conference will be incorporated into
      the annual pow-wow. 

      "When I leave here, I don't want to see this disappear,"
      she said. "I want the next NASA to carry on."

      


       For more information on the conference and pow-wow, contact
      Renee Walker at 885-7716.
 

      
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