Feel the Drum Beat at Native American Powwows
At Wind River’s Native American Powwows, you’ll feel the drum beat. Hear the singing. See the colors. Admire the detailed regalia, skilled footwork and precise movements. These are Native American powwows.
Update – Please confirm the scheduled dates before making your trip. All powwows are subject to change.
There are four large powwows from June through September. The Eastern Shoshone Powwow and Indian Days is Wyoming’s largest powwow. The Ethete Celebration and Powwow is held in July and the Arapaho Powwow, held in September, is Wyoming’s oldest powwow. Weekly dance exhibitions are held in Lander and Riverton June-August.
Photos: Wind River Country/Suite 1491
Feeling the Experience of the American West
In Wind River Country the summer season also marks the beginning of powwow season. From May through August you can experience an amazing cultural event by attending a powwow on the Wind River Indian Reservation. It’s a chance to learn about the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes and get caught up in the singing, drums and dancing.
Each Powwow begins with a grand entry on Friday night where elders bring in eagle feathers and flags, and all dancers enter the arena. There are also two grand entries on Saturday and one on Sunday.
The grand entry showcases the regalia dancers wear. There is great pageantry to powwows with exquisitely constructed regalia that is handmade and includes feathers, shells, bones, beadwork and sometimes family heirlooms. Everything on the regalia usually has significance to the dancer. Seeing the regalia- including the bustles and headdresses- up close, you can see the intricacies and craftsmanship that goes into each piece, a pattern that makes the colors flash and swirl when the dancer begins to move.
You can admire it, but don’t touch the regalia without asking first.
Admission to powwows is free. Once there you’ll find all kinds of vendors selling fry bread, Indian stew and Indian tacos, as well as jewelry and other items.
Native American Powwows today can include games, food and plenty of socializing, but the dance remains the main event. There are traditional dances passed down through the generations, as well as modern dances created in the last 20 years. Some are competitive and dancers follow a powwow circuit dancing for prize money. Usually about 40 percent of the dancers are from Wind River Country, the rest come from across the country and Canada. Drumming and singing accompanies all dancing and the drumbeat is considered sacred, representing the heartbeat of the tribe. Like the dancers, the drum groups come from across North America. Different groups specialize in different styles of dancing and each type of dance has its own song.
Powwows are open to the public free of charge, but you must remember to be respectful. You can take photos, but if possible, introduce yourself and ask. You can sit in the bleachers, or bring your own lawn chairs- in fact you’ll need to bring your own chair if you attend the Ethete Celebration- but be mindful of where you sit. Blankets on bleachers mark spots for dancers and their family members and you’ll want to keep access to the arena clear so dancers can move in and out easily.
A powwow isn’t a spectacle; it’s a cultural event significant to participants. A powwow is an incredible way to truly experience the blending of the present and Wind River Country’s history.
If you can’t make any of the scheduled powwows, the Wind River Hotel and Casino hosts dancing exhibitions on Tuesday nights during the summer in its Northern Arapaho Experience room, and the Museum of the American West hosts outdoor exhibitions Wednesday nights in July and August. These exhibitions are a great way to learn about the dancers and dance styles and information on the regalia.
This page is also available in German.
