MESA, Arizona – April 4, 2023 – American Indian dancers, drummers, authentic food and crafts are just a few of the highlights of Mesa Community College’s (MCC) Thunderbird Social Pow Wow. The event is hosted by MCC’s Inter-Tribal Student Organization (ISO) and Associated Students of MCC (ASMCC) and will be Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the MCC Southern and Dobson Campus, 1833 W. Southern Ave. Gourd Dances will occur at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. with Grand Entry of dancers at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
“Student representatives from both ISO and ASMCC have done an incredible job organizing this event,” said MCC American Indian Institute Program Advisor M. Talia White. “The pow wow is a gathering filled with hope and thoughts of wellness, positivity and prosperity. As Indigenous peoples we celebrate through the ancestral ways of storytelling – dance, song, arts and food. We open our hearts and minds to everyone who joins us. It is our hope that our guests will leave with an abundance of hope, happiness and more knowledge, appreciation and understanding of Indigenous peoples."
The pow wow features dances originating from warrior societies of the Southern and Northern Plains such as Gourd Dancing, Women’s Fancy Shawl, Women’s Jingle, Men’s Grass Dance and Men’s Fancy Dance. Guest performances include 2023 World Champion Hoop dancers Moontee Sinquah and Scott Sinquah; and traditional O’odham Dances by Chi’Chino Spirit, led by Kristopher Dosela and Ms. Indian Fairfax Candace Foulke who will share Traditional Bird Dancing.
Mesa Community College proudly serves all 22 Arizona Federally Recognized Tribal Nations with over 900 Indigenous students currently enrolled. MCC and the Maricopa Community Colleges are committed to supporting and empowering Indigenous students and communities through promoting opportunities for cultural and academic support, engagement and advocacy.
Those interested in supporting MCC’s Indigenous efforts or are interested in becoming a student should reach out to the American Indian Institute, a student support service located on campus that assists students with enrollment, educational planning, class selection, scholarships and other on-campus resources. For more information visit mesacc.edu/students/american-indian-institute.
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Media contact: Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7892
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, service-learning and innovative approaches to education. Host to more than 24,400 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. On average MCC students provide 23,000 hours of community service annually. For more than 50 years, the college has served as a resource for education, workforce development and lifelong learning. MCC is transforming student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution. Nearly 50% of MCC students are the first in their families to attend college. MCC has the largest indigenous student population of all the Maricopa Community Colleges. The American Indian Institute serves students from 22 federally recognized Arizona tribes and out-of-state tribes. Our diverse student body includes hundreds of international students from around the world. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to attain their goals. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, on the traditional territories of the O'odham, Piipaash and Yavapai Peoples, MCC is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Visit mesacc.edu to learn more.
MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.