Ryan ChartrandAnother Type of Groove provides a venue where students and community have an open place to share their thoughts, ideas and statements through spoken word. The poetry event brings a top national poet for the first Wednesday of every month.
This month features a poet and member of the Lakota tribe Ben-Alex Dupris from the Colville Indian Reservation near Spokane, Wash.
“We wanted to have someone with a different perspective to bring and share their cultural background,” said Renoda Campbell, coordinator of multicultural programs. “Students will get a different perspective on life and what Native Americans face.”
The 30-year-old poet has been a guest lecturer at the University of Arizona and Gonzaga Law School. He also travels to other reservations to perform his poems.
“I got to a point where I wanted to be less grim when talking about Native American culture,” Dupris said.
Dupris is now on a Spokane Slam team that is made up of 30 competitors with a huge fan base.
“I am one of five Native American slam poets that I know of in the country,” Dupris said. “I am a Native American futurist. I believe all Native Americans need to be futurists.”
Straight from the hip-hop generation, he presents his poetry in freeform on stage.
“There were a lot of different elements in bringing him here. He is the forefront of Native American culture,” said Skylar Olsen, economics senior and Another Type of Groove student coordinator. “This year we are trying to focus on bringing in cultural experiences throughout the year. November is Native American month and we found Ben-Alex to come to our event.”
Dupris tries to give everyone a perspective on Native American culture and spirituality, which he said are often misunderstood.
“A lot of Indian people do not like what I have to say and a lot of my people are ashamed to be Indian,” Dupris said.
“I want the Native American children to know that it’s okay to want to play X-box after a powwow. Sometimes the message is lost when we misinterpret history and cannot accept that technology.”
The slogan of Another Type of Groove is “Open mics, open minds” and they truly mean it. Students are encouraged to share the stage and there is a sign-up list for anyone wishing to perform.
Dupris, along with Cal Poly students and community members, will be performing at 7:30 p.m. in room 213 in the Business Rotunda. The event is free and open to the public.