Hosted by the Indigenous Student Union (ISU) the powwow welcomed participants from the Golden Hill Paugussett, Eastern Pequot and Schaghticoke tribal nations as well as attendees from the Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes.

Founded six years ago by Kiara Tanta-Quidgeon, ’22, ISU is a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Quinnipiac students. Its mission is to function as a community united in their shared passion and interests in indigeneity through education, celebration and advocacy of Indigenous histories, cultures, and social issues. Tanta-Quidgeon remains an active ISU alumnus by assisting the efforts her cousin, current ISU president Aiyana Baker, BSN ’25. Tanta-Quidgeon and Baker are Mohegan tribe members.

During the powwow’s opening remarks, Tanta-Quidgeon talked about ISU’s start at Quinnipiac and the remarkable distance it has traveled since that time.

“This was a dream of mine. I could never imagine that this would be something that I would ever be a part of putting together,” said Tanta-Quidgeon. “I would like to thank Aiyana for being very dedicated to powwow planning and organization, together with the rest of the executive board. Aiyana, like me and other members of the Indigenous Student Union, really dreamed of bringing this event to life.”

The April 13 powwow on the Mount Carmel Campus filled the air with the sounds of traditional drumming and song accompanying dancers. It remade the Quad with a central arena tent surrounded by smaller tents filled with Indigenous artisans and vendors and organizations providing activities and education tables.

The grand entrance which opened the powwow celebrated elders, esteemed guests and dancers entering the arena to the powerful music of three tribal drumming and signing groups. Following a prayer given by Golden Hill Paugussett Tribal Nation Clan Mother Shoran Waupatukuay Piper, Tanta-Quidgeon and Baker welcomed powwow participants and supportive community members from Quinnipiac and surrounding areas.

“It brings me so much joy to welcome you all to our very first powwow. This is the first powwow in Quinnipiac University history. This is the first time that we have welcomed members of Connecticut’s intertribal community to our grounds to celebrate Indigenous culture,” said Tanta-Quidgeon.

Tanta-Quidgeon recognized the support and contribution of the Indigeneity Initiative, which provides faculty support to ISU. She also thanked Quinnipiac’s Office of Inclusive Excellence, Albert Schweitzer Institute and Student Government Association together with Connecticut Humanities and the Mohegan Tribe for helping to make the day possible. Additionally, Tanta-Quidgeon thanked the tribal communities who have called Hamden and Connecticut their home since “time immemorial.”

Baker opened the powwow by asking attendees to share a moment of silence in remembrance of their ancestors.

“In our culture, the ancestors play such a large role in our lives. They were the ones that made this land what it is and the ones who got us to where we are today. They demonstrated what life on this land should look like and laid a foundation for who we are,” Baker said. “Today, we thank them and honor them for all that they did so that we can be doing this. They continue to guide us through their signs, whether it’s a whisper in the wind, an eagle soaring above your head, the ripple in the river, or a leaf falling near you. They are here with us today.”

The powwow marked the culmination of a series of meaningful programs ISU offered this year, as well as the many past events, presentations and programs of the ISU.

As Golden Hill Paugussett Clan Mother, Piper has supported ISU efforts through the years by offering presentations and joining educational panels. She said it was amazing to see the powwow taking place on the university campus.

“It’s making our ancestors happy. We’re also honoring our ancestors and waking them up, so they’ll be out here dancing with us,” Piper said.

Director and Professor of Anthropology and Indigeneity Initiative member Julia Giblin said the powwow was a testament to the organization, enthusiasm and spirit of the Indigenous students on campus.

Giblin said the event also marked an important step as a university community in thinking about the connection to the Quinnipiac name, the land, and places like Sleeping Giant State Park that are important to Indigenous people throughout New England and the Northeast.

The day also deepened an opportunity for the university to build relationships with Connecticut’s five recognized tribes, said Giblin.

“It’s part of showing our internal community that we care about this and to be interested and curious and supportive. And I also hope it’s a signal to the town of Hamden, to the larger public and to the Indigenous communities in the state that there are people here who care about making these Indigenous connections visible and supporting learning about Native American culture in this region,” Giblin said.

Professor of Modern Languages Luis Arata is also president of Sleeping Giant Park Association, which set up an educational table at the powwow. In 2023, the association dedicated an interpretive panel at the park recognizing the site as part of the ancestral territory of the Quinnipiac tribe. The panel also shares Indigenous history and spiritual lore including the legend of Hobbomock, the Sleeping Giant. The giant’s body is seen in repose in the lines of the mountain overlooking the Mount Carmel Campus.

“This event, for me, is a dream come true. I’ve been at the university since 1991 and I was always waiting for something like this to happen,” said Arata. “This is the beginning of an annual event, which is wonderful. I hope one year it also happens on Sleeping Giant, on both sides of Mount Carmel Avenue.”

Assistant Professor of Education Jennifer Dauphinais joined the Indigeneity Initiative in 2019 and is of Canadian Métis descent.

“It’s amazing to see this event and the ability for all of us to come together and give celebration and honor. It’s the first time that Quinnipiac descendants and/or regional tribe members have been on this land together, singing and playing, at this scale. Being at the base of Sleeping Giant on this land and witnessing these voices and drums singing out is such an honor for us,” said Dauphinais.

ISU active alumni member Daniel Galvet ’23 said he was proud to see the momentum built from the student group’s early, determined work. Galvin joined the ISU as a student ally in 2022 and served as secretary through 2023.

“When we did have success, it felt that much more valuable because we worked hard and pushed hard for it. So to see this happen in such a short amount of time has been amazing,” said Galvet.

Baker said she was grateful for the many members of the intertribal community who brought their vibrant spirit to Quinnipiac’s first powwow. In addition to many family members on-hand, Baker and Tanta-Quidgeon were also honored with a visit from Mohegan Tribal Chief Marilynn "Lynn" Malerba and Mohegan Tribal Council member Bill Quidgeon. Baker said her late grandfather, William Quidgeon, taught her about her culture and was there in spirit.

“This has been a personal dream of mine since I began leading the Eboard. Being able to do this is so special to me because so many of my fondest memories growing up were at powwow with my grandpa and with my family,” said Baker.

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