Lane Community College’s Native America Student Association hosted their annual Salmon Bake that celebrates the importance of salmon in the Northwest coastal tribes.
Students teach students about Native American culture
The second floor of the Center Building was alive with the sound of drums and vocal flutes on Thursday, Nov. 14.
Lane Community College’s Native American Student Association, or NASA, held a round dance demonstration titled Rock your Mocs, helping promote Native American Heritage Month with a traditional style dance called a round dance.
The dance event, hosted by a handful of members and leaders from NASA, took place in the Haugland Commons. The gathering was organized and led by Lori Tapahonso, co-advisor for NASA, donning her customary moccasins and welcoming smile.
Volunteers serve food prepared by LCC culinary program graduate Tamarro Gabbert to members of the community. The Salmon Bake was hosted by the Native American Student Program and the Native American Student Association. The event is a celebration of culture held during the fourth week of November, Native American Heritage Month. 
Lori Tapahonso, who comes from the Diné/Acoma Pueblo village in New Mexico serves as the Native American Program Coordinator at Lane Community College. She started the evening off with a welcome and introduction to the annual Salmon Bake held by students on Nov. 22 at Lane’s Longhouse. This event featured cultural foods, and a community feast.
“Round dances are not powwows. They are for fun, not ceremony. They can be humorous and lighthearted. They can be used to tell a story. It’s a time to come together as people and celebrate,” Tapahonso said to the small crowd.
During the first dance, onlookers appeared reluctant to join.“Anyone can be a part of this dance, all of you are welcome and invited to join! Don’t be shy,” Tapahanso reassured them.
This type of southern style round dance is a social event with its purpose to unite people, welcome friends, families and even strangers to join hands in a circle moving in sync to the hand-drum and the spirited voice of a traditional singer. Here, it was on CD. Over time, people joined in, smiling and laughing.
This one-hour long dance was a milestone for NASA and the local Native American community. NASA member and chief support Matthew Murdock pointed out that in this area a round dance is significant because it is the first to take place since the 1980s.
Powwows, not round dances, in the spring are the traditional gathering for the Native American community. These powwows can attract community members from all over the West Coast, even those from other parts of the United States and Canada. These take place at traditional gathering locations that have been used for centuries.
NASA’s main goal in performing this dance is to promote the beauty, history and communal power of Native American culture. NASA member Jimmy Snyder spoke about the importance of NAHM and the years of struggle the community has faced promoting it.
“Native American culture has been ignored. We’ve been ignored, you know, we haven’t been on the social conscious. It’s a beautiful culture and that’s why we are here.”
The remainder of November will see a score of events that continue to represent Native American cultures such as a salmon bake and another, bigger round dance. A few lectures, also, will discuss Native history and freedoms.
