Lindsay France/University Photography

The 10th annual smoke dance competition in Barton Hall April 10.

Lindsay France/University Photography

Blanche Jones, a member of the Onondaga Nation from Oneida, N.Y., dances in the Golden Age competition.

Native American dancers clad in leather and feathers danced to the beat of one drum as they showcased years of Native American history to a crowd of Cornellians and local residents, April 10.

The 10th annual Iroquois Smoke Dance in Barton Hall was all-day event featuring storytelling, music, crafts, dancing and food.

Smoke dancing, a fast-paced dance that is performed differently by woman and men, was created by the Iroquois. Dancers from local Indian nations competed in five different age groups and were judged by a panel based on their knowledge of the dance, style of dancing and ability to keep on beat to a live drum.

Audience members were invited into the dancing area to learn and participate in such Iroquois social dances as the Stick Dance and Western Style Round Dance, both of which are performed in a large circle, and the partner Alligator Dance.

Students planned the event to educate the Cornell community about Native American culture. "We're really trying to increase visibility of the Native American community, show everyone we're here, and [that] this is a big part of our culture that we want to share with everybody," said Fred Gonzalez '10, who has been involved with planning the event for the past four years.

"I think any event that fosters cultural understanding is essential to education," said Kyle Coulon '11, a American studies major and the logistics coordinator for the event. "It's always important for students and anyone involved around Ithaca to recognize that we're on the Cayuga territory and recognize that the people who came here are still here."

The event was sponsored by the Native American Students at Cornell.

Kristen Tauer '10 is a writer intern at the Cornell Chronicle.