Drums! Dance! Frybread! Shopping!

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The PowWow is free of charge to attend! A donation to Toys For Tots (a toy or financial controbution) is requested. Bring a comfy camp chair and stay all day!

Modern Native American powwows are social events. It’s a time to see old friends and make new ones. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and engage in conversation with vendors, dancers, singers and other powwow participants. The powwow coordinators provide a cultural celebration that also educates and engages Non-Native attendees.

Your powwow organizers recognize that this may be your first time at an event such as this and want to provide you with some basic guidelines and highlight some important elements of the powwow.

Our Masters of Ceremonies and our Arena Director are coordinating the dances and the flow of the event. Some dances are specifically for attendees in regalia, as the dance represents a specific type of dance. The MC will announce when the public is welcome to the dance circle. 

Attendees and spectators who are not in dance regalia are invited to dance when the MC announces the invitation. Please note that all entry and movement in the arena moves in a clockwise manner.

At certain times, individuals or organizations will be honored by having a blanket spread on the ground for a monetary tribute.  These Dances are your opportunity to financially support various participants and causes. If you choose to drop a donation on the blanket, don’t just walk crossways in the arena. Enter the arena and follow the clockwise flow to reach the blanket and exit after placing your donation on the blanket.

Never refer to a Native American Dancer’s Regalia as a “Costume”. A dancer’s regalia may also be called their outfit. 

Much thought, time, energy and expense has gone into the making of each outfit. Often pieces of the regalia are family heirlooms. Regalia is created by the dancer or by a respected family member or friend. The feathers are sacred and highly valued and cared for. If the regalia contains eagle feathers, the Dancer has waited years to obtain eagle feathers or have been gifted the feathers as an honor. Eagle feathers may only be in the possession of tribal members who are registered with a nationally recognize Native American Nation. 

The beadwork may take a very long time to complete. Sometimes years have gone into the final completion of a dancer’s regalia. 

Never touch a Dancer’s Regalia. If you feel the need to touch, always ask permission, and be gentle and considerate. Respect the personal space of dancers as you should for anyone else.

Do not enter the Dance Arena. Walking or running into the arena is prohibited. Don’t cut across the arena just to get to the other side! The benches that surround the arena are the boundary you should respect. The benches are for the Dancer’s use only.

Stand during the Grand Entry. The Native American Eagle Staff and American Flag and other flags will be brought into the dance arena and you should remain standing during the Flag Song, the Invocation and the Veterans Songs. Men should remove their hats during these times.

No Alcohol Or Drugs Permitted At Powwows. Today’s Native American powwows are alcohol and drug free environments. Anyone found under the influence or in the possession of drugs will be immediately escorted off the powwow grounds.