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[article provided by Mary Roffers. Thanks!]
 

For immediate release (12/10/99)
Headline:  New corporation celebrates American Indian heritage

Fargo - Volunteers from the Red River Valley region have come together to
create a non-profit corporation, Northern Plains Voices, to promote,
preserve and celebrate the American Indian heritage.

Made up of more than 20 volunteers, Northern Plains Voices was formally
established at the corporation's first meeting on Sept. 30, 1999.  Scott
Satermo, from Fargo, was named the organization's chairperson.

NPV is continuing to meet and plan its first major event:  a three-day
powwow to be held in Fargo in Fall 2000.  The Northern Plains International
Contest Powwow is scheduled for Sept. 29, 30, and Oct. 1, and planning is
continuing.

Next year's powwow is expected to be the best-attended and most ambitious
ever held in Fargo-Moorhead.  Past powwows have been smaller and limited to
one day.  The 2000 powwow will be a large-scale event expected to draw
hundreds of dancers and drummers and thousands of spectators from
throughout the Midwest.

Satermo described NPV as the "mother organization" that will plan and
coordinate many different events, not just the powwow. Other events will
include cultural programs and fund raisers, all geared toward the public
and audiences of all ages.

Members are finalizing the organization's articles of corporation and
developing a mission statement.  In addition, NPV is developing a web site
that will serve a variety of purposes, including promoting the powwow and
serving as a source of information about American Indian events in the
region.

Northern Plains Voices will play an important role in the region.  At
present, there is no office, agency, or department geared exclusively
toward American Indian programming for the public.

Satermo said Fargo is an excellent location for this corporation because,
in addition to being the major population center in North Dakota, the city
is so close to Minnesota and South Dakota.  "Ours is a living culture
within this region," he said.  "There's such a large number of Indian
people here and it's important that people realize that."

This also seems an appropriate time to create the NPV corporation, Satermo
said, noting that we are at the dawn of a new year, decade, century and
millennium.

Satermo said he is pleased with the makeup of the organization thus far
because members bring a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and talents
to the meetings.  But he was quick to stress that people need not be of
American Indian descent to join NPV - membership is open to all interested
persons.

"This is a very diverse group of people," Satermo said.  "There are people
from different walks of life and people who have been involved in American
Indian events over the years.  But there's room for more members.  We need
your help."

To join Northern Plains Voices, or for information about the Northern
Plains International Contest Powwow, call Scott Satermo at (701) 239-9940.
The mailing address is:
Northern Plains Voices, P.O. Box 907, Fargo, ND 58107.
 

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