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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University will come alive with dancers and artisans as the campus celebrates its 28th annual Native American Powwow on May 15-16. The powwow is also known as Klatowa Eena, which means "go Beavers" in Chinook trading language. The event is free and open to the public, beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, in OSU's Gill Coliseum. Klatowa Eena will feature representatives from various tribes throughout the United States.

A free dinner will be served at 5 p.m. on Saturday, followed by an evening of Native American dances starting at 7 p.m.

"Visitors will have an opportunity to see and hear the many different styles of American Indian dance and song as well as an opportunity to visit the many Indian artists and craft vendors with items that will be available for purchase," said Allison Davis-White Eyes, coordinator of OSU's Indian Education Office. "This is an excellent time to welcome the spring and celebrate with the Native American community."

On Saturday morning, the annual Jim Thorpe 5K/10K fun run and walk starts with registration at 7 a.m. at OSU's Native American Longhouse at 26th Street and Jefferson Avenue. The 5K walk starts at 7:50 a.m. and the 5K and 10K runs start at 8 a.m. All events start and finish at the Longhouse.

The event honors Thorpe, who was born on an Oklahoma Indian reservation in 1887 and won the pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Olympics. He also played professional baseball and football.

Thorpe died in 1953.

On Sunday, powwow activities begin at noon with grand entry.

Drums provide the music of the powwow. The Host Northern Drum will be the White Lodge Singers from Mandaree, N.D. and the Honor Drum will be the Hillsidetrailz Singers from Pendleton.

Thomas Morning Owl from Pendleton will serve as master of ceremonies, Ervanna Little Eagle from Seattle will serve as Head Lady and Terry Heemsah from Toppenish, Wash. will be Head Man. Arena directors are Irvin Tso from the Dine Nation, Pendleton, and Don Moccasin from Fort Peck, Mont.