The WSU Ku-Ah-Mah, an American Indian student group, hosted the 3rd Annual Native American Round Dance at the Gladish Community & Cultural Center Saturday night in celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

Ku-Ah-Mah means cougar in Nimipu, the language of the Nez Perce tribe. This free, public event included a traditional American Indian round dance to music performed by the Lightning Creek drum group and the University of Idaho’s American Indian drum group, as well as a free meal.

Before the round dance, the room was blessed by Merle Tendoy, a member of the Chippewa Cree tribe from the Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana. Tendoy served as master of ceremonies.

Community members looked on in silence while Tendoy, whose American Indian name is Sparrow of Man, burned a fragrant piece of white sage that symbolizes purity and fanned the smoke around the room with a sacred eagle feather. A prayer was also said in Nimipu.

After the room was blessed, the drumming began as dancers stood in a circle, holding hands and stepping clockwise to the rhythmic beat of the drums.

Standing in a circle and holding hands is a show of community, friendship and respect, Tendoy said.

The drum group sings in different Native American languages about being thankful for their blessings and their family. The group also acknowledges the harvest season and thanks the creator for Mother Earth’s bounty, said Franci Taylor, WSU Native American retention counselor.

“There is a lot of symbolism involved in the celebration,” she said. “Everything is circular, and the circle represents many things - family, the four seasons and life itself.” Andrea Charette-Bluff, a senior music performance and architecture major and Ku-Ah-Mah chairwoman, said the round dance is about unity.

“The round dance is a chance to come together as a people and celebrate life and culture,” she said. “It is also a friendship dance, so that native and non-native communities can come together and socialize.” The event is also a winter celebration of community, sharing, American Indian heritage and a chance to bring everyone together, Taylor said.

“An issue today is the fact of misuse of ceremonies by non-natives, and that adds to the sorrow of our people. The only image people have of American Indians is from the movies,” she said. “This is a celebration of family, earth, being an American Indian and sharing our traditions with the larger community in a very joyful way.” Tendoy also emphasized the importance of remembering American Indian values, while living in the United States and being a part of the U.S. system of education.

“We embrace our Western education, but we never forget our own customs and language,” he said. “It’s good to remember our culture. That way, our children will know who we are.”