Spring Equinox celebration inspires massive turnout of Native students and their families
An estimated 500 people gathered at United Tribes Technical College for Spring Equinox festivities
Bingo cards are handed out during the Spring Equinox celebration, the first multi-collaborative effort of Bismarck and Mandan K-12 public school leaders. It’s estimated that 500 Native students and their family members attended the March 22 gathering at United Tribes Technical College.
After a long winter — even by North Dakota standards – that’s not yet over, Kianna Eagle Chasing was happy to join an estimated 500 people who gathered at United Tribes Technical College, UTTC, for Spring Equinox festivities.
Laughter, children, goodwill, tasty food, and the onset of new beginnings filled the gym. “That’s our ways, it feels good,” said Eagle Chasing, the mother of two school-age children who attend Grimsrud Elementary. “Cante’ ma waste’, I’m really happy,” she said.
The Wed., March 22 gathering in Bismarck is believed to be the largest assembly ever held in the United Tribes Technical College gymnasium said Melvin Miner, a UTTC campus planner. He said they had to pull out the bleachers and bring in all the extra tables they could find in the building to seat everyone.
“It was really to bring our community together to celebrate spring and focus on healing and new birth, rebirth, all those components, and to bring us together as one.”
Sashay Schettler, Indigenous education director for Bismarck Public Schools
The spring get-together is the result of Bismarck Public Schools, Mandan Public Schools, UTTC, and UTTC’s Theodore Jamerson Elementary School leaders’ decision to collaborate. This Spring Equinox celebration also marks the second year Bismarck Public Schools has recognized calendar events that vibe more with Native peoples.
“It was really to bring our community together to celebrate spring and focus on healing and new birth, rebirth, all those components, and to bring us together as one,” said Sashay Schettler, Indigenous education director for Bismarck Public Schools, “and to get us to start out this new year in a good way.”
Schettler is the first person hired to fill the BPS Indigenous education director role and is now serving her second year.
Travis Albers, cultural advocate for Mandan Public Schools, described the evening as “an amazing event,” that succeeded because of the comradery shared amongst everyone involved. “It’s not a competition, we’re just all working together.
“There’s a lot of great energy here,” he said. “We wanted to do something for our Native students and Native families.”
Community donors pitched in prizes. Adults played bingo while kids played in bouncy houses, enjoyed face painting, and stood in line for cotton candy. Despite the unexpectedly large attendance, everyone enjoyed plenty of barbeque ribs and chicken.
A round dance had been planned, but with so many in attendance, there wasn’t any room for it to happen.
Eight-year-old Aanjay Plentychief attended the celebration with a relative. “My auntie is right there playing bingo with the white hat. See? Right by the drum,” she said. The equinox festivities gave her the chance to spend time with her friends and to play in the “jumpy houses.”
Plentychief is among more than 2,000 Native students who attend Bismarck-Mandan public schools, with about 1,600 in Bismarck and some 400 in Mandan.
Donovan Lambert, BPS cultural responsive coordinator, kept the evening lively as the bingo announcer. For those who hadn’t won yet, Lambert teased: “Get a new bingo card, smudge it off.”
Kandi White won a 65-inch TV. “Oh my gosh. I’m so excited,” she said when she stepped up to the bingo announcer’s table to collect her prize. “I never win anything. I’m just shaking.”
Twila Herald won a laptop. “This is what my son wanted,” she said when she hit some lucky bingo numbers.
With the last of the prizes finally won, it was time to go home.
“It turned out unbelievable,” said Miner, who also serves as UTTC cultural coordinator. “We didn’t think it was going to be this big.” He chalked up the success to collaborative efforts and good timing. “It’s been a long winter,” he said. “Everyone just needed to get out of the house and do something.”
As Eagle Chasing put on her jacket and prepared to leave with her children, she said the Spring Equinox gathering made her feel at home. She said, “I loved it.”