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Big Time is Happening Saturday, April 8

Two dancers at Big Time in 2009. Cal Poly Humboldt has hosted the event for thirteen years. | Photo by Hector Arzate

The Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) will be hosting Big Time in the Forbes Gym at Cal Poly Humboldt on April 8. Big Time is an acknowledgment of the sacred lands of the Wiyot people and a cultural sharing of song and dance for tribes across the state of California. This will be the first Big Time hosted since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Big Time is a cultural sharing that really honors the rich, vast cultures of California,” said Sasheen Raymond, ITEPP coordinator. “The beauty about this event is that it really highlights that these are living cultures that are still present today, and so it kind of elevates a lot of cultural communities that we don’t necessarily see.” 

“Thirteen years ago we transitioned,” Raymond said. “Cal Poly Humboldt, back when we were Humboldt State, used to have a pow-wow. But students decided to transition, because here in California, we don’t actually have powwows, we have what we call social gathering, because our culture looks a little different than that of the Plains tribes, which generally have powwows.” 

Big Time will feature traditional dancers such as The Women’s Collective Flower Dance, Tuolumne Me-Wuk, Red Cedar Drum, Maidu Traditionalists, Cal Poly Humboldt Student Drum group and Round Valley Feather Dancers. There will also be various local Indigenous vendors selling jewelry, basketry, clothing, foods and other goods. Big Time is a free event for students and members of the community. Taking photos and videos will be prohibited at this event.

For more information on the event, visit ITEPP’s website.

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