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Pow Wow

"Once a year, there's an event that makes me feel proud of my Native American background."

Listen to this Commentary!

By Edwin Taitague

When most people see me they think I'm Latino or Asian. I have dark slanted eyes and my hair is straight and black. But I'm really Native American.

I'm Edwin Taitague with a commentary from Youth Radio.

My family is from South Dakota — we're from the Sioux tribe. But I live in East Oakland. I don't really know any full-blooded Native Americans living in my neighborhood. I've lived on 28th and Foothill for my whole life and I've grown up with the same people. Most of the time, I don't feel much different from them.

But once a year, there's an event at Stanford University that makes me feel proud of my Native American background. It's called a pow wow — a traditional Native American dance.

I usually go with my grandma to watch the dancing. I like the music, but I mostly go to socialize and catch up with old friends. There are people there from all over — other Native Americans I've known since I was little — people from Sacramento, San Jose, even some people from Arizona and South Dakota. Sometimes I take my friends who are not Native American, to see what my culture is like.

They like the music — they say it has a good rhythm to it. They ask me questions about my culture and it's nice to be able share that with them.

Every year a Native American tribe's culture dies out. Their traditions are lost and no one ever gets to learn about them. My tribe is one of the few that's still alive, and at the pow wow every year, I get to learn more and teach others about my culture.

For Youth Radio, I'm Edwin Taitague.