For four decades, dancers, singers, and spectators from nearly 100 tribes gather in Colorado for a celebration of Native American heritage.
For 40 years Denver has been home to a celebration of Native American heritage at the Denver March Powwow. This is one of the largest events of its kind, where over 1,500 dancers “come together to sing, dance, and honor their heritage that has been passed down to them from their ancestors.”
Dancers gather from almost 100 tribes from 38 states and three Canadian provinces to the Denver Coliseum for a 3-day celebration full of centuries-old traditions. The Powwow is a collection of dance events, contests, and storytellers who share their tribe’s history and legacies, with appearances from tribal princesses and ambassadors as well as the crowning of Miss Denver March. The celebration also presents an opportunity to shop, with many Indigenous peoples selling their art, blankets, pottery, jewelry, beadwork, and more. Learn more about this event at denvermarchpowwow.org.
Grand Entry at the 2024 Denver March Powwow includes Color Guards and Eagle Staff.
2023 Miss Denver March Lennyn Paskemin (Plains Cree) waves to the audience after her introduction speech.
Eatosh Bird (Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation) is a women’s Fancy Shawl dancer.
Princesses and Ambassadors will travel from throughout the United States and Canada to represent their communities at the Denver March Powwow.
Winners of the Grace Gillette Honor Contest, named for the DMPW’s executive director for 34 years, are in the special teen boys Grass dance category.
From our August/September 2024 issue.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Eunice Straight Head (Minicouju Lakota Cheyenne River Sioux) via Denver March Powwow
