Experience Native American Culture at Powwows Across the USA

Indigenous peoples across North America come together annually for reunions filled with dancing, songs, art and traditional cuisine. Held to honor ancestors and pass down traditions, powwows typically have a central circle that represents the never-ending cycle of life. In this circle, traditional dances are performed alongside drumming and singing with the drum beat symbolizing the “heartbeat of Mother Earth.” The Grand Entry kicks off a powwow and features dancers, elders and veterans wearing handcrafted, finely decorated regalia. Throughout a powwow, there are judged competitions for dance, clothing and drumming. Most powwows are open to the public; those who are respectful of these sacred events are welcome to join in the celebration. 

The United Tribes International Powwow

This famed powwow is held each year during the second weekend of September on the campus of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota. The college is owned and governed by five North Dakota Tribes and serves as a center for tribal higher education. Over 70 Tribes are represented at this prestigious powwow, and upwards of 40 artists sell their work offering a wide, diverse and representative selection of Indigenous arts and crafts. The main culinary event is the annual “buffalo feed” barbecue featuring buffalo meat steaks and burgers, along with sides such as coleslaw, potatoes and corn on the cob. While in North Dakota’s capital city, tour the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum located on the state capitol grounds. Explore 600 million years of history with a full-size Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton cast and fossils, as well as interactive exhibits on the Indigenous peoples of the area. North of Bismarck, explore Double Ditch Indian Village, an ancient earthlodge village inhabited by the Mandan Indians for 300 years.

Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirit (BAAITS) Powwow

Held annually in early to mid-February in San Francisco, California, this is the largest Indigenous gathering in the USA that honors LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit Indigenous people. “Two-Spirit” is a modern term for Native American individuals who embody both masculine and feminine spirits. Historically, Two-Spirit people were revered and held important positions like healers and shamans in their tribe. The powwow breaks from the tradition of gender-separated dancing and drumming groups by offering non-gendered and all-gendered performance groups, allowing participants to choose the best fit for them. Browse a curated collection of Indigenous art, clothing and jewelry in the market, and taste popular Indigenous cuisines like fry bread and buffalo burgers. In San Francisco, explore the American Indian Cultural District, which spotlights Native American voices through street art and historic preservation. View Indigenous contemporary works in the Native Art galleries at the de Young Museum, a fine arts museum housed in a striking copper-clad building with an observation tower offering panoramic views of Golden Gate Park. 

Crow Fair and Rodeo

Crow Fair is one of the biggest powwows in the USA, held at Crow Agency in Montana. Witness the “Tipi Capital of the World” each August when more than 1,000 tipis are set up along the Little Bighorn River to create a vibrant, living village. This event begins each morning with a parade featuring stunning regalia with traditional beadwork. Witness elite Native American cowboys compete and see high-speed horse racing at the largest all-Indian rodeo in the country. Sample traditional Indigenous cuisine featuring wild game like buffalo and bear, fry bread and soups. Browse handmade pieces and craft supplies as well. Closeby, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is the site of the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn. See memorials honoring the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Visit the log home and farmstead of Chief Plenty Coups of the Crow tribe and the last traditional chief of Crow Nation at nearby Chief Plenty Coups State Park in Pryor.

The Red Earth Festival

Held annually in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this festival is renowned for both its Native American visual and performing arts. Shop from more than 130 Indigenous artisans at the juried art market; artists must apply to participate. Browse authentic, handmade textiles, beadwork, jewelry, sculptures and paintings, and meet the artists in person. The opening parade is a lively, colorful procession through the city center with hundreds of dancers in full regalia. The festival also features art competitions, dance performances and demonstrations. Oklahoma City is a hub for Native American culture. Learn the histories and stories of the 39 tribal nations who reside in Oklahoma at the First Americans Museum. The museum is embedded in a massive earth mound, and the on-site restaurant serves Indigenous-inspired cuisine using ingredients sourced from Native producers.