I’ve been reading a lot of thoughtful and provocative comments here on the Buffalo’s Fire about the unfortunate turn of events at the Kyi-Yo Powwow this year. I particularly wanted people to take note of what it’s like to run the powwow from the perspective of the former Kyi-Yo Club president, Amanda Decker. She addresses some deeper and disturbing problems about being an American Indian student on the University of Montana campus. The real issue is a lack of cultural understanding or support from university higher ups, the people ultimately responsible for a good respectful powwow environment.
Here’s what Decker has to say from past experience:
As a former Kyi-Yo member and as last year’s President of this powwow I felt it necessary to express my support to this year’s committee. It is very unfortunate that this happened and I am sorry for all those who left the powwow feeling cheated and lied to. However, I understand that this year’s Kyi-Yo club is probably dealing with a whole lot more than what any of us are aware of.
Last year as the clubs president I felt that I, along with my fellow officers had been put through more than what anyone should go through. We all signed up for a full time job when we committed ourselves to organizing this event and through all of the hardships that we went through we were very fortunate to have pulled everything off.
As for this year’s new club I’m sure that they learned more about what really happens during this event and I’m sure it was more than anything that they could have imagined. The University’s large campus is very diverse, but when it comes to working with certain individuals you’ll come to find that things are not always what they seem. There are individuals on campus that work with the Kyi-Yo club and yet have no understanding or sensitivity to our Native American culture as one would hope. On the other hand there are people on campus who are working hard on a daily basis to support Native Americans on campus and their cause for such a unique event as the Kyi-Yo powwow. Nonetheless, it seems that the individuals who have the least understanding of Native American culture are those who have the most influence over whether or not the students are able to organize a successful powwow.Although I do not know everything that led up to this past weekend’s turnout, I do understand that the Kyi-Yo club is dealing with individuals who at one told me that my family would not be allowed to bring in items for our giveaway. Not only did they not understand the reason or concept of “giving away”, but they questioned what items my family would put into the coolers that we would give to the drummers. Of course our coolers were filled with nothing more than sandwiches, chips and water to feed the singers, but the facility had wanted to search these coolers in case there was alcohol in there. It took a lot of explaining by me and other individuals to convince these people that we do not associate drugs or alcohol with things that are sacred to us.
I realize that I may seem to be getting a bit side track from the topic being discussed, but I just wanted to let everyone know that that there are a number of things that could have caused this clubs downfall. The Adams Center administration has the power to take away an underwrite on the gym that could have saved the club 10-15 thousand dollars and they have the power to take away any monies that the club received at the door. It is unfortunate that something like this could happen, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done between the University’s faculty and the Native American students. I realize that a lot of damage has already been done, but please do not put down the students who tried to make this year’s Kyi-Yo powwow a successful event.
I know that there are no real excuses, but please understand that when it comes to “paying out” to the winners of this event that it has been looked down up on by many administrators because of the lack of “accountability” on the students behalf. At one time it was even suggested that the club mail out checks to the winners of this event so that they could be more reliable; it is clear that they have no understanding of how a contest powwow that attracts a lot of people works, but none the less they do not care whether or not families go home feeling cheated and lied to. I hope that people do not boycott this event as it has brought many positive changes to campus and the community and I do look forward to seeing a successful and stronger Kyi-Yo club next year!
Amanda Decker
I want to thank readers for posting their comments. Otherwise, none of us would ever know what really happens behind the scenes at the University of Montana’s Kyi-Yo Powwow. You can read all the comments on the previous Kyi-Yo posts here on this blog page. It seems like a lot of the weight for the powwow is carried on the backs of students. Where is the support? Where is the leadership to ensure these students can succeed in embracing their culture? I suggest readers listen to OPI’s State Superintendent Denise Juneau’s interview on Tribal Scene Radio last week. She said Montana’s higher ed system has failed to put a single dollar into Indian Education for All. When you get to the KBGA Tribal Scene page, listen to the April 16 interview with Juneau.
Jodi Rave
Luella Brien
As a former Kyi Yo officer I feel that I need to say something. It’s unfortunate that the club was taken advantage of by administrators on campus who continually took ticket sales profit to “hold” for the club during the event. From what I understand the club had the money for contest payout, but it was made unavailable to them during the powwow and later earmarked by the University to cover the cost of the Adams Center. Now I’m hearing reports that it’s going to be used to pay the wages of a UM employee recently hired to help run the powwow. I don’t understand why UM would use powwow gate sales to cover the wages of a state employee.
After a little digging I found out that the club dealt with a computer glitch and had to tabulate point totals by hand and then found out that they didn’t even have access to the money that was rightfully theirs. When they made the announcement there were no University officials there to back them up, there was no sound explanation by the club officers to give to the participants, because they weren’t provided with one by the University. I don’t understand why the University left the club officer out on a limb to deal with the fallout.
It’s highly irresponsible for the University to create a problem for the club and leave them, the students, to deal with it. For all the reports I’ve heard the club was under the impression that they would have access to their money, but then it suddenly changed.
I’m not surprised that things turned out this way. I was a club officer in 2002 and we ran into brick wall after brick wall when dealing with the University’s administration. The inherent problem in students putting on such a large event is that there is no institutional memory from club administration to administration. The hiring of a project coordinator was supposed to fix that problem, but of course the university dropped the ball on that, too, by not hiring a new coordinator until only a few weeks ago.
This problem should not be blamed on the Kyi Yo Native American Student Association officers. They should not be getting threatening e-mails, phone calls and messages. They should not have been put in the line of fire. This is an problem that lies within the University of Montana’s administration.
I am a proud Grizzly and a proud former Kyi-Yo officer. I do not hold these students responsible for the money issue at the powwow. They are getting the short end of the stick and should not be vilified. The real issue needs to be publicized. There is more here than meets the eye.
K. With Horn
Thanks Amanda for giving us a true insight to how the university really is! I am very disappointed in how the university handled this situation.
Just know that I was there when this happened and my heart went out to those students that were left to explain. My thought leaving that night was, what an embarrassment for the University of Montana! I never once blamed the students as I believed something else was behind it all. I left there thinking to myself that President Dennison and his administration should be ashamed, especially him as he is a hyprocrite! Who else stands up there and gets honored knowing how he treats Native students. I also thought, why does he care?? He is leaving with a nice promotion/salary. Again, very, very typical!
Just so Native students know, there are many universities and people out there that do not single you out because of who you are but they embrace your culture and beliefs. I guess I just want to say how sad this situation turned out. Thank you for bringing it out in the open as I am one person who actually thought the University of Montana was different. I was clearly wrong!