Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, October 5, 1998
Raven Heavy Runner, President of the First Nations Student Association and Browning, Mont., senior, supervises children enjoying the Moonwalk at the Three Sisters Festival at Haskell Indian Nations University on Saturday. Photo by Danielle Sutor/ KANSAN
Haskell festival honors harvest
By Steph Brewer
Kansan staff writer
Lawrence residents celebrated this year's harvest of corn, beans and squash at the second annual Three Sisters Festival at Haskell Indian Nations University Saturday.
The free event, held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., was sponsored by Haskell and open to the public. The festival included dance and theater performances, children's activities, corn-shucking and hog-calling contests, and booths set up by local artists.
Most of the money earned went to Haskell's Thunderbird Theater group for its upcoming trip to Washington D.C.
Lori Tapahonso, co-organizer of the event, said that the concept of the Three Sisters came from an old farming technique of planting beans, corn and squash together so that they could nourish each other and help each other grow.
She said that although the Three Sisters concept was an Onelda tradition, other tribes gave special significance to at least one of the crops.
"The premise of the whole festival is to honor the harvest," she said. "If you honor that, in essence it will turn around and keep providing for you."
Raven Heavy Runner, president of the KU First Nations Student Association, volunteered at the festival. He said that honoring the harvest was important because it was the sustenance for some tribes that were farmers.
"This is a symbol of the sustaining of a culture," said Heavy Runner, Browning, Mont. senior.
Tapahonso said that festival organizers aimed to create an event that could be appreciated by the whole community. She said that certain crops such as corn were significant in many different countries.
"There are a lot of different cultures up at KU and we wanted to make a festival that everyone could enjoy and everyone could relate to," she said.
Klissa Rueschhoff, a fundraiser and grant writer at the Haskell Foundation, said she was pleased with this year's turnout. She said that there weren't many harvest festivals in this area.
"It's unusual in this part of the country, but we're trying to make this a festival of national recognition," she said.
Jim Skorija,
Lawrence plays, plays an accordion Sat-
day night at Oktoberfest at
St. John the Evangelist
Catholic
Church, 1229
Vermont St.
About 1,200
people attended
the event,
which earned
approximately
$6,000. Photo
by Augustus
Anthony Piazac/
KANSAN
Polka mass highlights Oktoberfest
Church's annual festival draws 1,200 people earns about $6.000
By Augustus Anthony Piazza
Kansan staff writer
"It's the only time when we get to see some of the older people in town," said Jason Ratzlaff. Buhler senior.
Some University of Kansas students abandoned their usual Saturdaynight hangouts to mingle with community members at the second annual Oktoberfest at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1229 Vermont St.
Oktoberfest, one of the largest festivals in the world, was first held on Oct.
12, 1810, in Munich, Germany. King Ludwig I created the festival to celebrated his marriage to a Bavarian princess. The celebration became an annual event.
Father Charles Prolifka, of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, was one of the people responsible for starting the event last year.
Jordan Martens, Buhler sophomore, said that his hometown had a large population of German descendants who also celebrate Oktoberfest, and that he felt this was a way of getting back to his roots.
He said that it was a great way for people to enjoy each other's company and have fun.
In addition to the food, music, dancing and beer drinking, there was also a
polka mass in which the hymns were accompanied by polka music.
"It was Ave Maria, polka style," said Chad Meitner, Hoisington graduate student. "I enjoyed the twist of the music. It gave it a different flavor."
This year's Oktoberfest had an increased attendance and profit. About 1,200 people attended this year, which was 100 more than last year.
Tim Keller, Oktoberfest organizer,
said the festival grossed about $6,000
compared to $5,500 last year.
"As the word gets out, and people have a good time, it gets more popular," Keller said.
Fifty percent of the profits from this year's Oktoberfest goes to the church's school. The rest of the money will finance church activities.
Red Lyon Tavern
944 Mass. 832-8228
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
students $10
non-students $20
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