Released Dec. 10, 2007

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- The annual Montana State University American Indian Council Pow Wow will be held May 2-3 in 2008 at MSU's Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

The MSU pow wow is one of the largest in Montana and all pow wow events are free and open to all.

The date is a one-year only schedule change from the usual April schedule for the pow wow, one of the state's largest pow wows that attracts thousands to the Bozeman community, according to event organizers.

"Montana college and university campuses - public, private, and tribal - have collaborated for many years to schedule their campus pow wows so as not to conflict with one another," said Jim Burns of MSU Native American studies and adviser to the pow wow that will be in its 33rd year.

Burns said that the MSU date was changed because the University of Montana pow wow had to change its date to MSU's weekend due to an unavoidable and inadvertent conflict. MSU decided to schedule its 33rd annual pow wow to the first weekend in May for this year only to better serve the large number of Montanans who regularly attend campus pow wows.

"This allows dancers, drum groups, vendors, and audience members to participate in as many pow wows as they desire," Burns said.

The pow wow begins at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2, with the grand entry. There will also be grand entries at noon and 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Dance and drum competitions are always a key feature of the event. Booths around the edge of the dance arena will offer the crafts of traditional artists and artisans throughout the pow wow.

For more information, contact Jim Burns (406) 994-4880 or e-mail him at jburns@montana.edu, or call Native American Studies, (406) 994-3881.

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http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5441

Contact: Jim Burns, (406) 994-4880, jburns@montana.edu