Hundreds turned out Sunday for the second day of the annual powwow held by the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center.

“We’re getting together to greet, meet and have fun and respect each other’s way of life,” said Russell Simms, founder and executive director of the center.

It is the 42nd year for the event, which grew from humble beginnings at the newly opened center in Indiana Township on land previously owned by the federal and state governments.

“Urban Indians didn’t have a place to go, to meet, to do anything as a community,” he said. “So a handful of us decided we were going to do something, and we did it — 40-some years ago.”

The center began as informal meetings among Native Americans in the Pittsburgh area who began getting together simply to be among others like themselves. The gatherings moved to the second floor of Simms’ auto parts shop and, eventually, grew to become the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center.

The membership of the center today represents 105 tribal backgrounds, Simms said.

It comes down to gathering, he said: “That’s why there’s a center.” He said it gives Native Americans a place to come together and do things for which there really aren’t any other venues.

“One of the very traditional things is a powwow, because it serves several purposes,” he said. “It allows native people to come together, under different cultures, but all native, and have fun — meet, greet, make friends and have fun.”

The second part, he said, is to educate the public.

“So that they understand what it is, traditionally, what we’re doing and why,” Simms said. “It dispels a lot of myths systematically without making a to-do about it.”

June Anderson of Hampton said she had never known about the center or the powwow event until she came across it by chance.

“I thought, ‘Why didn’t I ever know about this?’ ” she said, watching participants in a social and inter-tribal dance competition move to drum beats in colorful traditional regalia. “It’s so interesting, and it’s right here.”

She took photos and videos of the dancers, and she became emotional watching them.

The event offered hours of traditional dance competitions, crafts and wares and food. Hundreds watched the competition from wooden bleachers and camp chairs.

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