BOZEMAN – The 44th Annual American Indian Council Powwow continued Saturday at Montana State University, and this year, the theme of the powwow hit home—especially for women.
First you hear the sound of the drums, then come the singing voices calling the dancers in.
No matter the age or tribe, thoughts begin to fade away with each step.
The tradition filling the room made many feel right at home. But the meaning of this year’s powwow was more than just a celebration. The theme was murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, an issue that impacts everyone in the American Indian community.
“We are freshman in college, and we are worried about our lives,” said MSU student Bree Deputtee.
Deputee, along with some of the other dancers, painted a red hand on her mouth to bring awareness to an issue that has been silenced for too long.
“When is it going to stop? When are we going to like feel safe just walking to the store or something or just jogging down the street?” MSU student Alisa Fisher told MTN. “I don’t know.”
It’s a problem that doesn’t have a solution yet. But hand in hand as a community, one thing held true on Saturday: These women stood united.
-Reported by Mederios Babb/MTN News
