American Indian students will represent their small numbers in a big way when the Federal Way School District has its first powwow this weekend.

Students – as well as American Indians from throughout Western Washington – will perform dances and drumming.

The nine-hour powwow Saturday aims to build a sense of community among American Indian students and their families, said Maxine Alex, coordinator of the district’s Native Education Program.

“They want teachers to know our culture is still alive and flourishing,” Alex said. “We don’t live in the pages of a history book. We flourish in the flesh.”

The powwow will bring together the small but growing number of American Indian students in Federal Way. From 500 to 1,000 students in the district are identified as American Indians, Alex said. That’s out of a district enrollment of 21,723 students.

Federal Way students come from homes in which a total of 107 languages are spoken. The largest non-English speaking group in the district is Spanish, followed by Russian/Ukrainian, Korean and Vietnamese.

Hawley Duclos, 18, is helping Alex organize the event for class credit. A senior at Truman High School, Duclos is a member of the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of Fort Peck, Mont.

She’s created fliers and invitations, made phone calls inviting parents, and contacted vendors for the event. It’s all part of an effort to reach the Federal Way community and beyond.

“We want to bring everyone in so they can catch a glimpse of what a powwow is,” Hawley said. “This gives me an opportunity to meet other Native students in my district.”

She’s one of seven American Indian students at 117-student Truman High School.

“I’m nervous and also very, very excited,” Duclos said. “It’s very close. There’s still a lot to do.”

American Indian students in the district generally are from nonlocal tribes, such as the Cherokee, Blackfeet and Navajo – also called Diné – tribes, Alex said.

The number of American Indian students in the district has grown primarily because of families moving from Seattle to Federal Way for more affordable housing. Two of the district’s high schools, Federal Way and Decatur, have native clubs for students.

The theme for the powwow is “Honoring the Gift of Tradition.”

One purpose will be honoring the sacred use of tobacco for medicinal purposes while educating about the dangers of smoking. Various informational booths and vendors will be open during the powwow.

The Washington State Urban Indian Tobacco Coalition is co-sponsoring the event with the Native Education Program. Students’ parents also are helping.

Alex, a member of the Diné Nation, focuses on building self-esteem as coordinator of the Native Education program, now in its third year. She meets with students individually and in groups. And she links them up with help for improving math grades, a challenge facing many middle and high school students.

She also helps students plan for life after high school.

Alex said her goal is “to try and keep them interested in school and help them see they have a future in higher education if they want.”

The powwow also is a way to help students see themselves as an integral part of their schools.

“It’s easy for students to get lost,” Alex said. “They really don’t have a place to celebrate their heritage or culture.”

Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647

WHAT: Federal Way School District powwow

WHEN: 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Federal Way High School gymnasium, 30611 16th Ave. S., Federal Way

COST: Free

SPONSORS: Native Education Program, Washington State Urban Indian Tobacco Coalition

MORE INFORMATION: www.fwps.org or 253-945-4583