Fry bread and smiles: Butte College Big Time

BUTTE VALLEY — Adorned with brown feathers, white fringe and colorful beads, rapper Supaman engaged a crowd of all ages at the Butte College Big Time on Thursday.

The term “Big Time” is “the regional term for what people in the Midwest would call a powwow,” said Leo O’Neill, president of the Butte College Native American Club.

The event took place at the Butte College main campus and featured dance performances, Supaman’s headlining show and vendors selling traditional Native American items and food.

Supaman is member of the Apsaalooke Nation and is known for his fusion of traditional Native American music and contemporary rap.

“I love Supaman,” O’Neill said. “His lyrics, his dancing, his beats: it touches the soul.”

This is the second annual Big Time put on by Butte College and Supaman’s second time headlining the event. Attendees filled the bleachers of the gym where he performed while groups of young school children sat on the floor smiling and cheering.

Supaman’s story and message

Supaman’s performance involved callbacks with phrases such as “prayers up, tobacco down” and “love each other, no matter what the color.”

At one point, Supaman opened up about his upbringing living on a reservation in Montana. His parents were both alcoholics and his father was abusive. At a young age he and his siblings were put in foster care.

He shared that he lost his father to suicide, but that his mother is now sober. The crowd cheered when he talked about his mother’s sobriety, and cheered again when he said that DJ Element, the DJ he performed with, is 10 years sober.

According to the American Addiction Centers, “There are several factors that affect American Indians and Alaska Native communities, which can increase their risk of developing alcohol addiction. Some of the major risk factors that these communities face include historical trauma, lack of easy access to healthcare, lower educational attainment, poverty, housing problems, unemployment, violence, loss of connection to culture, and mental health issues.”

Supaman said he never got into alcohol because he saw the harm it caused those around him.

“It’s a good choice,” Supaman said about sobriety. “It doesn’t make us better than anyone but it’s a good choice.”

Throughout his performance he harped on the message of equality and love.

Feather River Tribal Health had a table at the event offering Narcan and information on wellness services.

“We really try to integrate culture and healing,” said Feather River Tribal Health wellness director Ashley Weiss.

Weiss said it is important to have support and community when reaching out for help with addiction.

“I think there’s nothing harder than struggling alone,” Weiss said.

Traditional jewelry

Vendors at the event sold ornate jewelry, ribbon skirts and and a variety of crafts. Tables covered in black cloth displayed what appeared to be millions of glistening beads and shells.

Vendor Rose Alley didn’t start making jewelry until after she had open heart surgery. During her recovery she had extra time, and filled it with jewelry making and crocheting.

Alley said events like the Big Time bring the community together, those of Native American descent and those not of Native American descent.

“I’m probably related to all of them,” Alley said about the attendees. “I’m getting to meet all my cousins.”

Alley has one Native American parent and one white parent. She said she is a descendent of multiple tribes, but mainly Mechoopda.

“I was what they called a ‘half-breed,'” Alley said. “So I wasn’t rejected by both sides.”

Food

Food vendors sold various items including fry bread, Indian tacos, corn and rez dogs.

Fry bread is a traditional Native American bread that is puffy and can be eaten plain, with powdered sugar or with meat and vegetables which makes it an Indian taco. A rez dog is a hot dog wrapped in fry bread.

Debbie Steele wore an apron with a picture of her grandma on it as she made countless orders of fry bread with Bald Rock Fry Bread.

“I get nervous every time I make it,” Steele said. “Everybody says it turns out real good. They like it.”

Steele, 68, has been attending Big Time events her whole life.

“It’s like our church,” Steele said. “It’s real spiritual …  lots of love, lots of love.”