Jackie Bird sang songs as she strummed along on a colorfully painted guitar. She had eighth-grade girls from Washburn model traditional clothing. Five students helped her with the hoop dance. Nearly everyone joined in a dance with arms connected as they sidestepped in large circles.

Friday was Youth Day at United Tribes Technical College, an immersion for students in the cultures of American Indian and other indigenous people. About 1,000 students from Bismarck, Mandan and surrounding area schools came to the campus Friday morning.

"I think the culture is really cool and the clothing is beautiful," said Solheim fifth-grader Madison Schirado.

A boy from Solheim Elementary School raised his hand quickly when Bird asked the crowd of students who had a birthday Friday. But it wasn't his birthday, and it appeared no one else claimed it, either.

So Bird picked him. He suddenly appeared uncomfortable to be singled out when Bird asked him his name. Then her "grandma," a puppet that sat on her knee, sang him a song. It was a bit off-key and "grandma" sang some shrill notes.

"The puppet was cool,"fifth-grader Rachael Sayler said.

At school, their teachers had talked with the students about American Indian culture and the purpose of the powwow.

Fifth-graders Jon McShane, Eric Pladsen and Kolton Kelsch admired the girls modeling the clothing. They particularly liked the girl in the purple dress, Washburn eighth-grader Kyra Syverson. She modeled the clothing along with Courtney Hall, Keeya Weinnann, Jodi Clayton and Courtney Tweeten.

"I like seeing what they wear," Syverson said. "It, like, expresses their culture."

The students had class assignments before Youth Day about the importance of powwows:"It was interesting," Syverson said. "I didn't know much about it."

But, now they have a better idea about the powwow's purpose: "They come here to renew friendships," Tweeten said. "And make new ones," Clayton added.

Bird's performance was one of many that had the students up and joining in on the activities. The cultural performance group, Soweto Street Beat, performed a Zulu dance, and had some of the students try the dance and play the drums.

After the Soweto Street Beat program, the students met the two Miss Indian Nations contestants, Jennifer Mellette, a junior at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., and Samantha Ridley, a senior at McLaughlin High School in McLaughlin, S.D. Mellette is majoring in political science and criminal justice; Ridley wants to be a neurologist.

Miss Indian Nations is an ambassador, leadership and scholarship program. The women who win go on to represent their tribe and the American Indian community at events.

They are judged on performing a traditional skill, on talent, speaking ability and their interview questions, among other criteria. The students at Youth Day voted on the Children's Choice award.

Miss Indian Nations will be announced today. Both of the contestants said they have wanted to be Miss Indian Nations since they were children.

"It gives strong, young women a chance to be a voice for their nation," Mellette said.

Miss Indian Nations also becomes a role model for American Indian girls, which is important in a matriarchal society, she said.

Ridley also holds the title of Miss Standing Rock. Though for safety reasons she couldn't demonstrate her archery skills, she talked about the historical importance of archery in her culture and then sang a song of thanks. Mellette got the crowd involved by dancing and talked about how to stay fit.

After the Youth Day activities, the students were able to participate in the first grand entry for the powwow. The turnout for the day was good, organizer Bernadette Dauenhauer said. She hopes the program lived up to its purpose.

"It is about cultural awareness and respect in one another's culture," she said.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)