The Daily Tarheel

Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: University

Media Credit: DTH/Kate Napier Clara Sue Kidwell, director of UNC's American Indian Center, which opened this semester, welcomes the audience to an open house Friday.

The sound of beating drums and traditional songs filled Hill Hall's auditorium on Friday during the culminating event of the UNC American Indian Center's open house.

The center, which opened at the beginning of this semester, aimed to use Friday's open house to increase its visibility on campus.

"We really want to draw attention to the fact that we exist," Director Clara Sue Kidwell said. "We want people to come and go, mix and mingle."

Assistant Director Brandi Brooks said the day's "big bang" was the drum and song performance, scheduled for the center's lawn. Heavy rain forced the event into Hill Hall.

Despite the move and weather, about 50 wet students filtered into the auditorium for the event.

"I don't think the weather affected the turnout," Brooks said. "But I do think people are glad they get a chance to sit down."

The performance began with a song and drum circle led by the Red Oak Singers, a traditional, Southern Plains style powwow group from the Raleigh area.

"We represent about five tribes within our group," lead singer Jason Evans said. "We've tried to come to UNC-Chapel Hill before, but something has always come up."

The group's performance was sponsored by the Carolina Indian Circle, a campus organization for American Indian issues. The singers plan to return for the circle's powwow in the spring.

Friday's event also included songs from Unheard Voices, a three-person female a cappella group within the Carolina Indian Circle.

"We perform at diversity events across campus," said sophomore Meredith McCoy, the group's event coordinator. "We haven't had auditions yet, but we hope our group will grow to about five singers."

Carolina Indian Circle helped with the event by bringing volunteers to answer questions and lead tours of the center.

"At the beginning of the year we get a list of students who identified themselves as American Indians, and we go out and knock on doors," said senior Ashley Oxendine, the Indian Circle's president. She said that a vigorous recruitment process helped increase student involvement in events such as the open house.

The American Indian Center also hosted a meeting for the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs earlier this month, and center officials plan to integrate more with the UNC campus in the future.

Kidwell said an immediate goal is getting the Web site off the ground and planning activities for American Indian Heritage Month in November. She also said that bringing guest speakers to campus will be a future initiative.

"We're not an academic unit, and we're not for research per se," she said. "We aim to be a focal point for gathering and disseminating information."



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.

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