To many Native Americans, drums represent the heartbeat of their culture.

This weekend, they become the pulse of Breslin Center as thousands gather for the North American Indian Student Organization's 20th annual Pow-wow of Love. At most powwows - cultural gatherings of Native Americans - the drums become the center of a circle of dancers. Drummers sing to accompany their rhythms - they don't drum to accompany the singing.

"The music, the drum - it's the centerpiece of the powwow," said Bryan Newland, co-chairman of the organization. "It provides the beat for the dancers and it is symbolic - it represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. That drum beat is essential. It's really a centerpiece to our culture.

"Music is a form of expression, as in many cultures. It's a way we celebrate - through music and dance."

Grammy-winning Northern Cree, a drum group from Alberta, Canada, will be among the 300 performers helping to make that music.

But there's more to a powwow than dancing and music - and the event is not exclusive to Native Americans. The Pow-wow of Love offers everyone a chance to experience some aspects of Native-American cultures and traditions.

"The powwow, it just shows other people and other ethnic groups that we're still around and we're still going strong," said chemical engineering sophomore Scott Gilmore, co-chairman of the event's organizing committee.

Along with the main events of the powwow, visitors can purchase goods hand-crafted by Native American artists and craft traders.

Fry bread, a traditional Native-American food similar to elephant ears at a carnival, Indian tacos, corn soup and sassafras tea are among the staple powwow foods prepared and sold by food venders at the event.

People attending the powwow can also participate and interact with the dancers.

A master of ceremonies will be on hand to provide a narrative of what is going on during the powwow - explaining why a particular thing might be happening and describing cultural aspects of the event.

But this year's Pow-wow of Love is more than just a celebration of culture. This year, NAISO has something extra to be excited about.

Not only has the Pow-wow of Love survived and gained momentum during the past two decades, but the combination of this year's location at Breslin Center with a stellar lineup of award-winning performers is expected to bring in a crowd nearly double that of previous years.

"You just have no idea what this means to us," said Newland, a social relations senior. "We've been wanting to do this since I was a freshman here. The venue is perfect for this. It's a first-class facility for the participants, students and spectators. It's a high-profile location and by virtue it piques interest."

In recent years, the event has been held at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, a long hike from main campus and downtown East Lansing.

But this year, 5,000 people are expected to attend the powwow throughout the weekend. It's expected to cost $80,000 to host this year's event - which is nonprofit - at Breslin.

"We're expecting this to be twice as large as any powwow we've ever had here," he said, "and we think it's going to be the largest powwow in Michigan."

And although the powwow can be very spiritual, it is not a religious event but rather a community gathering, anthropology Professor Susan Applegate Krouse said.

Krouse recently attended a powwow in Madison, Wisc., with her husband and said it was a fantastic opportunity to see people she hadn't seen in a while.

"You know if there are native people in the community and there's a powwow going on that you will find them there," she said. "That's the wonderful part, it's a chance to meet to with old and new friends."