APRIL 10, 2025 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | By Grant Loui
On Saturday, April 6, Colorado College hosted the Native American Student Union’s (NASU) annual PowWow in the Fine Arts Center. A Pow Wow is a Native American ceremony that celebrates tribes’ cultures and history, primarily through dancing, music, and food.
The event began with an opening blessing and an Aztec dance, followed by a traditional grass dance to bring good energy to the day. While the Fine Arts Center may not have been the ideal location—as the event is usually held outdoors—it was moved indoors due to inclement weather. Despite the change of venue, morale remained high, and the sound of the lively drums filled the event.
Co-chair of NASU Kylee Gosney ‘26 said that they started planning this event all the way back in October. Debbie Howell, the Elder-in-Residence, was instrumental in making this happen thanks to her planning, management skills and cultural knowledge.
Gosney expressed her excitement about future NASU Pow Wows, saying, “The Pow Wow has continued to grow in the time I’ve been in NASU, so I can only imagine what it’ll look like next year.”
The primary focus of the powwow was the dancing, not just as entertainment, but as a celebration of Indigenous identity and a form of competition.
The dancing in a powwow is very unique. Dancers typically performed individually, each with their own choreography. This freer version of dancing allowed for individual personalities to flourish.
In addition to dances, five drum bands rotated performing, providing music for both the ceremonies and the competition.
In between age groups, while the judges tallied votes, dancers, organizers, and audience members were encouraged to get up to the stage and dance in what is known as an intertribal dance.
There were a variety of dances, separated into five age groups and divided by gender. The age categories were “Tiny Tot,” “Junior,” “Teen,” “Adult,” and “Golden Age.” There were also four main kinds of dances, some of which were a combination of the four. The main dances were Traditional and Fancy, which were performed by both genders, Grass Dances performed by men, and Jingle Dances performed by women.
Each dance has its origin and cultural importance, rooted in the traditions of specific tribes. For instance, the Jingle category originated in the Great Lakes region, is only performed by women, and focuses on light, nimble, forward-stepping dances. The Grass Dances, on the other hand, originated in the Northern Great Plains and are performed by men. The dance focuses on keeping to the beat while moving up and down.
The outfits worn during the event were incredibly detailed and vibrant. They often featured feathers or beads, and many made sounds with bells or small metal cones known as ziibaaska’igananins. Every part of the regalia held meaning, representing personal identity, family history, or tribal heritage.
In addition to the main dances, there were vendors selling handcrafted jewelry, apparel, accessories, and more. People in the Indigenous community made these goods and often represented aspects of tribal life and heritage. There was also a food stand that served tacos and frybread, which was cooked fresh on-site.
The NASU PowWow was a joyful and meaningful event. The atmosphere was lively, the people were welcoming, and the sense of pride and community was unmistakable. “It is wonderful to see the Indigenous community come together and celebrate their cultures,” said Mariam Fruchtman ‘28, a member of NASU. Despite the less-than-favorable weather, the Native community came together to celebrate each other and their traditions. Through dancing, singing and food, they managed to do that while having fun.