Native council provides
members with support

The BSU Intertribal Native Council (INC)is geared towards

helping Native American students get used to college life and learn

leadership skills. It also contributes to helping Native Americans

throughout campus.

The INC provides a way for Native Americans with common interests

to get together and help one another. According to INC president

Lee Boyle, INC is more like a support group than a club. Members

try to help out with each other’s problems in order to make

sure that everyone feels secure.

However, along with providing a supporting environment, INC still

strives to be the best they can. They have regular weekly meetings

and plan activities.

“We try to do the homecoming parade and we’ve spent

some time helping other groups on campus, like the Filipino

Club,” Boyle said.

This Friday, September 24, is the First Nations Conference, an

event only held at BSU once every three years. It discusses

different topics according to Native American culture. Though the

INC does not sponsor the conference, but is put on by the Cultural

and Ethnic Diversity Board, they still take part in it.

“They ask us for input,” Boyle said, “We try to

help them out in any way we can with information.”

This is the first year that the conference will be held in the

fall, instead of the spring; however, INC still has big plans for

the spring. They are going to organize an annual event called the

Seven Arrows Spring Pow-wow from April 15-17.

“It’s basically to show people our customs through

dance and music,” Boyle said. According to INC advisor Larry

McNeil, the pow-wow is culturally based, but it is also designed

for the general public. INC really wants the whole community to get

involved, not just in Boise, but the entire region.

At the pow-wow, there’s usually a host-drum group, which

plays the drums for a lot of the main events like an honor dance

and an introductory dance. They also do a guest song, which

includes both singing and drumming. Dancing is also popular and

participants dance for both pleasure and a panel-judged

competition.

This is the first year that the date of the pow-wow does not

coincide with the conference.

According to McNeil, INC has kept things alive within their club.

“I think they stay very active and they have some very

dedicated members, because it takes a lot of organization and hard

work to do what they do,” he said.

The INC meets every Friday in the Student Union Building Cultural

Center at 1:30 pm.

“Anyone is welcome,” Boyle said, “I like getting

to know people from other tribes. I think each tribe has something

to offer, since we all have different experiences.”

The members appreciate new ideas and hearing different views.

“I know that everyone faces challenges,” Boyle said,

“Some people still hate us, which isn’t fair.

That’s why we try to promote our culture the best we can,

through pow-wow and education.”

Cassie Gutierrez
News Writer

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