Indian Center hopes to bring back ‘pow-wow’

The Indian Center along with a few Lincoln non-profits hosted a fundraiser on Saturday to raise money for the center and the current pow-wow space.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – It’s been over a year since the city of Lincoln has held a pow–wow. The Native American ceremony involves food, family, singing and dancing—it’s a tradition and a way to honor Native American culture. And now, the Indian Center is trying to raise funds to bring the tradition back to Lincoln.

Deveron Baxter is the board chair of the Indian Center. He knows how important having the pow-wow is to the community.

“It unites us,” Baxter said. “Everybody gets together, families you haven’t seen in a long time. They come down from reservations. It brings natives to the community really close.”

Baxter says the current pow-wow space is falling apart. There is no roofing, no paint and the wooding and lights need replaced. The one thing stopping the renovation—funds.

“A lot of the events that we would have had to bring money in and to be able to do those updates, have been cancelled,” said volunteer Maghie Miller Jenkins.

On Saturday night, the Lincoln Indian Center, Music Without Borders, and One Humane Race held a fundraiser to help raise money for the renovation. The night was filled with food, games, and a special performance from ‘The Voice’ contestant Josh Hoyer.

Baxter says Hoyer supports the Native American community, and its cause. He also wants the community to know the Indian Center is improving its reputation. Baxter says there is new management running the facility and new programs coming to the center.

“We’ve had a negative past, but that’s over now,” Baxter said. “We’re back, and we’re stronger than ever. We’re doing pretty good.”