Pow Wow planned tonight at Clark

The High Rock Singers

A powwow is a special gathering that is held to dance, sing, socialize, and honor Native American culture. Tonight, Clark College is hosting a mini-powwow to honor Native American youth and elders from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Gaiser Student Center on Clark’s main campus.  Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.  Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

The event, which is sponsored by the American Indian Students Council of Clark College (AISCOCC), is free and open to the public.  

"Our members will continue to live by the words of Shoshone-Bannock tribal member Becky Archibald, our Community Volunteer Elder," said AISCOCC President Rosie Arevalo. "She has asked us to 'honor those that have walked before us and realize the past is our heritage."  

A “drum” is a group of performers who play a large, specially designed drum and sing traditional songs; it is the “pulse” of a powwow.  The "host drum" of the powwow is primarily responsible for providing music for the dancers. 

At the Clark College event, the High Rock Singers will be the host drum, made up of affiliated singers from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs as well as singers from Portland, Ore., and Kelso, Wash.  "High Rock" refers to two different geographic locations.  One is a hill overlooking Monroe, Wash., the home town of High Rock Singers Coordinator Jim Roberts. The other is a high cliff near the area where many Warm Springs tribal members harvest huckleberries in midsummer.

Parks chief meets with youth leaders

National Park Service director Jon Jarvis meets with  Clark College students Luda Leksunkin and Roman Len, who both work for the National Park Service at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

During his short visit to Vancouver Thursday to deliver the Marshall Lecture, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis met with the approximately 60 high school, middle school and some Clark College students to discuss about how national parks can be more inviting to youth.

Riverview Community Bank receives community service award

Dr. Elson Floyd, president, Washington State University; Pat Sheaffer, chairman and CEO, Riverview Bancorp; and David Brukardt, AWB board chair and Sterling Savings executive vice president.

The Association of Washington Business recognized Riverview Community Bank with a community service award for its efforts in its annual Fill-A-Bag food drive. The program raised 16.5 tons of food and $7,000 in cash donations in 2009. Altogether, local food banks received $65,000 in value thanks to Fill-a-Bag.

Along with Riverview, 20 other Washington businesses were recognized. “Even during a deep recession, Washington businesses have found ways to give back to their communities and help those most in need,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “For these employers and their employees, giving back is integral to who they are and what they do. It’s part of how they do business. Thanks to their volunteer efforts, the lives of thousands of men, women and children in our state have been a little better this year.”

The AWB Community Service Awards are presented annually for projects that support education, youth organizations, community beautification projects, and community organizations that help people in need or programs recognizing volunteerism.

Riverview Bancorp, Inc. (www.riverviewbank.com) is headquartered in Vancouver. With assets of $929 million, it is the parent company of the 85-year-old Riverview Community Bank, as well as Riverview Mortgage and Riverview Asset Management Corp.  There are 18 branches, including ten in Clark County, and three in the Portland metropolitan area.

Evergreen Public  Schools' district art show kicks off 'Support The Arts Week' at Barnes & Noble

Evergreen Public Schools will hold its annual district art show on Monday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Barnes & Noble, 7700 NE Fourth Plain Road. Awards will be handed out throughout the evening, including the Superintendent's Award, personally awarded by Evergreen Public Schools' Superintendent John Deeder.

The evening will also feature a performance by the local harp duo Celtic Muse.

Student art will be displayed at the store from May 24 through Tuesday, June 1. During that week, customers can present an Evergreen Public Schools voucher at checkout and the district will receive part of the proceeds from the sale. The funds will be used to support art programs throughout the district. Vouchers are available online on the district website www.evergreenps.org or can be picked up at the store on Monday night.

Art and music events will also be occurring throughout the week, including performances by the Frontier Middle School orchestra, the Image Elementary School choir and art presentations and  demonstrations by students from Heritage and Evergreen High Schools and many of the elementary schools. A full schedule is available on the district website.

"We believe that this is an excellent opportunity for the community to see the quality and caliber of the artistic talent in the district," said Don Nelson, Manager of Music and Fine Arts. "We believe in the benefit of these programs for students and we're excited to raise both awareness and support for them through this week of events."