STORY:
Millennium Powwow Instead of Party

American Indians mark New Year with old traditions

(Everything200) We may be entering the 21^st century but in Arizona several hundred thousand will go back in time. Arizona Indian groups are staging a world’s fair and millennium pow wow.

More than 250,000 Indians from as far away as Australia are expected to attend the event in the desert. In fact, it could be the largest gathering ever of indigenous people. More than 150 American Indian tribes will participate along with native groups from Mexico and Canada.

The event is called The New Millennium First Peoples’ World Fair and PowWow-"Thunder in the Desert". A long name for a long event. It will be a 10-day gathering where children are invited to participate with their parents. The organizer wants the children to come into the new millennium with a background on their culture.

Cultural events, including native songs and dances, arts and crafts exhibitions, food festivals and a symposium for native writers, actors and producers, will conclude Jan. 9 after three days of competition powwows.

Tribal elders said the gathering is a way to mark th e millennium in a special way and to reaffirm the tribe’s commitment to their culture.

Source: Associated Press

DATE: 12/23/99

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