My name is Tara Cournoyer and I am a second-year student at United Tribes Technical College, majoring in the Health Information Technology program. I moved with my two sons to Bismarck about a year ago from Green Bay, Wis., to further my education.

My first experience here at the United Tribes International Powwow was very exciting as I watched the campus prepare for the event.

When I hear the word "powwow" it is not all about dancing and drumming. To me, powwows have a great deal of meaning.

It is a time to reunite with friends and family, meet new people and honor our culture.

As the powwow begins, the dancers get ready by putting on their regalia. It is very beautiful to watch all the dancers prepare for the powwow.

Grand entry is the beginning of the powwow, where the dancers line up and get ready to enter the arena. The dancers line up in the same way they did in earlier times, when they were getting ready to relocate their tribe, starting with the warriors, the elderly, men, women and then children.

Today, the grand entry is to recognize and honor the veterans. In my opinion, powwows today are more for enjoyment and competition, but still hold their traditional values.

A respected elder will say a prayer to honor those in war, and also for the creator to watch over us and to protect us.

As the drum begins, the veterans will start entering with the colors, as the dancers follow.

I have been to many powwows and I still watch in amazement each time I see the dancers begin grand entry.

A powwow is a culture-led event where the people come together for a traditional and honored purpose, so any kind of drugs and alcohol are not permitted.

The drums play a big part, as they represent the heartbeat of life. The songs can be a traditional song, a veteran song or a personal song, but most powwow songs now are produced for enjoyment.

As the dancers dance, they move in a circle that represents the circle of life, which means there is no beginning or end to life.

Our United Tribes International Powwow is where dancers and people come from all over to dance, honor and celebrate.

The powwow has so much to see, starting with the dancers and Native American artwork. It also is host to the Miss Indian Nations Pageant.

Powwows are meaningful and significant to me and my family; we not only get to enjoy the sights, but I get to educate my children in the values and the pride of being a Native American today.