Honor the Elders Event Promotes Native American Culture

In a year filled with Las Vegas tradition, the UNLV campus celebrates its continuing partnerships with the community. One of these collaborations is the Las Vegas Indian Center's Honor the Elders banquet, an annual event that promises its 300-plus attendees a unique cultural experience.

This event helps educate local Native American youth about their cultures and traditions,” explained Tammi Tiger, a Las Vegas Indian Center board member. “The initial premise of the banquet was to honor elders in our community, but we have also created some local awards to recognize outstanding community service and scholarship.”

The evening's program included an exhibit by sculptor Benjamin Victor, the artist of the Sarah Winnemucca statue currently on display in the nation's Capitol Rotunda. It continued with live entertainment and the recognition of two elders. Kyle Ethelbah was honored for his efforts on behalf of the university's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach and recognized for bringing adult and continuing education to reservations in the southwest.

The event, now in its 13th year, is partially supported by UNLV's Annual Fund. Proceeds help support the center's outreach programs that promote the social and economic self-sufficiency of the American Indian people and the community-at-large. The program also raises money for scholarship awards for undergraduate students who plan to attend a Nevada college or university. To date, these scholarships have helped send 15 students to UNLV.