Chancellor Drake Welcomes Community to UC Irvine’s Annual Powwow

Chancellor Michael Drake welcomed more than 2,000 community members to the Eighth Annual Powwow May 30 at the Mesa Court Field. The two-day event was co-sponsored by UCI’s American Indian Resource Program and the American Indian Student Association. Powwows are traditional gatherings to celebrate, honor and respect Native culture. Performances included dancers from Alaska, Arizona, California, New Mexico, South Dakota, Washington and Mexico, and drum groups from throughout California.

This year’s theme was “Strengthening the Health of our Future Generations,” and UC Irvine Medical Center participated by promoting diabetes prevention with the use of its full-service Mobile Medicine unit.

Chancellor Drake receives a plaque from Nikishna Polequaptewa (right), director of the American Indian Resource Program.

Chancellor Drake with a group from the American Indian Student Association. From left to right: Will Peterson, chapter president, American Indian Science & Engineering Society; Mahalia Knight, AISA member; Allison Hicks ’08, president, American Indian alumni group; Chancellor Drake; Cheyenne Reynoso, chair, AISA; Bree Padilla, chapter vice president, American Indian Science & Engineering Society; Yolanda Leon, director, American Indian Summer Institute in Computer Sciences; and Nikishna Polequaptewa ’05, director, American Indian Resource Program.

Photos by Paul R. Kennedy
American Indian Resource Program
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