"Celebrating Unity and Reconciliation" Selected as the Theme of 2010 Black Hills Pow Wow in Rapid City, SD

Online, September 24, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Thousands of people from the United States and Canada are expected at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, Oct. 8-10, for the 2010 Black Hills Pow Wow. By definition a "pow wow" is a meeting or conference. But the Native American leaders organizing this year's event hope it will also be a celebration that focuses on education.

"There will be dancing competitions, a fine arts venue, a scholarship pageant, a wellness symposium and tournaments for archery, golf, hand games and softball," says Stephen Yellowhawk, president of the Black Hills Pow Wow Association. "The main thing is experiencing our culture. We want the community to know the Pow Wow is for everyone - all ages and all ethnic backgrounds."

2010 has been designated the "Year of Unity" by Gov. Mike Rounds (R), SD. The goal of the designation is to improve understanding, cooperation and peace among all races and cultures in South Dakota. In Rapid City, where many activities have been organized for the Year of Unity, the Black Hills Pow Wow is seen as a culminating event.

"The Black Hills Pow Wow is one of the largest in America. Over 1,200 dancers are expected," says Michelle Lintz, executive director of the Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau. "I wish everyone, regardless of their ancestry, would take advantage of this great opportunity to learn more about the Native American culture."

"We need to start with our youth and try to build them up. We can make a lot of progress," states Yellowhawk. "We need to find better ways to get along and let go of the petty stuff so we can focus on the important things and find the beauty in all cultures."

A special Youth Day event is planned for the morning of Friday, Oct. 8. Yellowhawk says all schools are invited for a discussion about reconciliation, a hoop dance demonstration and a performance of different music styles. A complete schedule of events for the Black Hills Pow Wow can be found at www.BlackHillsPowWow.com