When and where is CIS in 2019?
The 2019 Carolina’s Indian Seminar will be held Friday, January 25th to Sunday, January 27th, 2019 at Mitchell Community College Continuing Education Center, 701 West Front Street, Statesville, NC.
Who Can Attend CIS?
This event is open to everyone with a desire to learn. Bring your Scout or church group or make it a family weekend. Registration starts Friday at 5:00pm – follow the signs. Uniforms are not required but appropriate attire is requested.
Everyone is welcome – but the College has set the limit to 400 participants. Register now to guarantee your space!
How do I register for CIS?
All the registration forms are available here.
Registration must be postmarked by January 9th, 2018. Registrations will be taken on a first-come first-serve basis. Please use the registration forms and provide all requested information. Registrations and payments should be mailed to the address shown on the form. Registrations recieved after this date may not be guaranteed a meal ticket.
How much does it cost?
Participant cost is $40 – the fee includes meals, classes, Friday and Saturday powwows, information booklet, space for sleeping, and event patch.
Saturday Day Pass is $24 – the fee includes classes, Saturday powwow, and event patch (no meals provided).
Saturday Day Pass w/Lunch is $30 – the fee includes classes, Saturday powwow, event patch, and lunch.
Powwows Only Pass is $5 – the fee provides access to campus after 5:00 pm for non-registered dancers and spectators. Children 5 and under are free but should still register.
What happens at CIS on Friday?
The weekend begins with a Powwow on Friday night at 8:30pm. All dancers are welcome. When the MC calls for everybody to dance, you may enter the dance arena in your street clothes. It is preferable for you to wear long pants instead of shorts.
This is a great opportunity to learn Powwow protocol. There are normally a number of exhibition dances on Friday night. If you haven’t determined the style of dance you want to pursue, this would be an excellent opportunity to see the different outfits and dance styles. Please bring a camping type chair to sit in if you are not dancing.
Where do I stay at CIS?
Rooms are provided in the college for sleeping. There are designated classrooms for Females and Males as well as an open area in the gym. Bring your cot and/or sleeping bag. Showers are available in the gym and restrooms are available on each hall. There are a number of local hotels if you prefer to stay off-campus.
Is there food at CIS?
On Saturday, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided. You will receive a wristband to tell you which meal time to attend. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase between meals.
Most people staying offsite eat breakfast at the hotel; old friends have supper at a restaurant; and many leave before breakfast on Sunday. We are trying to keep from increasing the event fee. One way to do this is to reduce the amount of food we throw away by having an accurate count for meals. Please indicate the meals you plan to eat on your registration form.
PLEASE be aware that we have lost the use of the cafeteria due to construction. The menu has been altered to accommodate the increased cost of providing a convenience style menu. Saturday night cracker barrel and Sunday breakfast will no longer be provided. We will not be able to accommodate special food requirements.
What happens at CIS on Saturday?
On Saturday, you will have the opportunity to attend as many as 5 classes starting at 9:00 am. A few classes may have a charge associated with them. An example would be an all-day class where you complete a pair of leather moccasins. Most classes, however, provide all of the materials you need free of charge.
There are approximately 125 classes available on Saturday. Everyone can find classes that suit their interests and skill level. The classes offered include outfit construction like beading, weaving, leatherwork, feather work, quill work, etc. as well as Powwow etiquette, dance styles/instruction, drumming, flute making, and basketry to name a few.
The instructors travel from all over the United States to teach. They are extremely knowledgeable and always happy to answer your questions. There will be vendors available Friday through Saturday to purchase outfit materials if you just can’t wait to get started on your new outfit!
What’s up with the Pow Wow on Saturday night?
The Saturday night Powwow starts at 8:15pm and is an excellent time to show off some of the skills you acquired during the Saturday classes. We often have in excess of 200 dancers on the floor on Saturday night representing a large variety of dance styles. This is a learning Powwow. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to help you with your dancing or to help you better understand Powwow protocol. Most of the young men and women you see dancing started at CIS in years past and love to show off their skills.
What happens at CIS on Sunday?
Please plan to leave the campus by 9:30 or 10:00am.
CIS is a wonderful place to learn new skills and make lifelong friends. If you like the seminar weekend, the AICA committee, who hosts this Powwow, holds a local dance Father’s Day weekend where you can rejoin your new friends and dance all weekend. The Cabarrus Powwow Association holds a Powwow in September where you can reunite once again. In addition to these local dances, your new friends would love for you to attend the Powwows in their communities.
We look forward to seeing you at CIS! If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us using the form below.
