The Native American Students at Cornell (NASAC) organization will host its Second Annual Pow Wow and Smoke Dance Competition Sunday, April 9, in the Ramin Room of the Field House on the Cornell University campus. The event begins with a "Grand Entry," similar to a formal procession or parade, at 11 a.m. and continues until 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

The event features a variety of Native American foods, dancing and arts and crafts. Among the day's many activities will be performances of Iroquois social dancing as well as a smoke dance competition.

Smoke dancing, one of the highlights of the event, is a freestyle and fast-paced dance created by the Iroquois. Competitors will be judged on their grace, regalia and dancing skills. Bill Crouse, of the Seneca Nation, will serve as master of ceremonies, introducing such featured performers as award-winning singer and recording artist Joanne Shenandoah. The Flint Nation Singers from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation are scheduled to drum for the smoke dance competition, and the North American Iroquois Veteran's Association will join in the Grand Entry and other festivities for a second year. This year the host drum will be played by Mystic River drummers from Mystic River, Conn. The Young Nation Singers from the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and Silver Cloud also have been invited.

For more information about the Second Annual Pow Wow and Smoke Dance Competition, contact Carmen Rosetta Jones at the Cornell American Indian Program, (607) 255-1921, or by e-mail at crj3@cornell.edu. This news release is available at http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/April00/pow.wow.rel.html, with a link to other Cornell news releases and photographs. For information on receiving Cornell news releases via e-mail, go to http://www.news.cornell.edu/subscribe.html or send an inquiry to cunews@cornell.edu