Big Time celebration to be held April 5

The Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) will be hosting their annual California Indian Big Time and Social Gathering on Saturday, April 5. The celebration will take place on campus in the West Gym from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This year’s Big Time will feature performances and presentations from eight different Native groups from all over the state, as well as vendors selling traditional wears and preserved goods.  There will also be food trucks and local nonprofits. 

Jaimoe Kibby Sr. of the Kibby Family Dancers has been dancing at the university since 1993 and continues to dance traditionally with his family. He is Yurok, Karuk, Wiyot and Pit River.

“It’s a connection through our family, for one,” Kibby Sr. said when asked about the importance of the dances. “And then it’s a connection to our past, through our ancestors.”

He also is the father of four children and has one grandson, all of whom he will be dancing with at Big Time. He recognizes the celebration’s significance to the younger generation.

“I think it’s really important, especially at that young age, to see that different kind of culture and style,” Kibby Sr. said. “It makes them kinda aware at a young age that there’s not just their little circle, there’s a bigger circle out there with different lifestyles and different cultures.”

In addition to the performances, a focal point of Big Time is fostering community. 

“I think it’s a really cool thing to share with this rich kind of history and culture that we have in California,” Sasheen Raymond said. “We’re so unique here.”

In an effort to showcase the school, ITEPP will be hosting several prospective students and their families who will be attending the celebration. 

“It really is such a culturally responsive way to present the campus to both the community and prospective students because a lot of times the traditional admissions process and preview events don’t really allow our students to see themselves here,” said Raymond, Director of ITEPP & ELITE Scholars.      

Raymond shared that the Big Time celebration is a good way for prospective students to see themselves in higher education by engaging with Native students and faculty. 

“And see we are a relational people, it’s really important for us to keep those strong connections and relation aspects,” Raymond said.

For more information or accommodations, you can contact ITEPP or reach out to Raymond herself ssr19@humboldt.edu.