Another pow wow season has come and gone. Thankfully Indian Country Today photographers preserved 2016 with beautiful photography.

As we embrace another upcoming pow wow season in 2017, we are taking a look back at the 2106 season with these photographs.

Happy 2017 Indian country and see you in the upcoming pow wow season!

Gathering of Nations

One of Indian country’s great photographers, Cliff Matias was on site at this year’s Gathering of Nations. He took a gorgeous range of images, most notably of Indian country’s amazing kids.

Here are great images by Matias.

We thought our readers would appreciate some great images of our young Native warriors in regalia that will be carrying on for the upcoming generation. Junior boy fancy dancer nails the end of his song right on cue.
Aztec dancer Maria Teller performed with her family during GON.
A young grass dancer shows off his moves during the Saturday afternoon contest.

27th Annual Cherokee County Indian Festival and Mother’s Day Pow Wow

The spirit of mothers was celebrated in dance and song at the 27th Annual Cherokee County Indian Festival and Mother’s Day Pow Wow in Canton, GA in May of this year. Photographer Amy Morris captured these beautiful images of the event.

Amanda Ironstar, Nakota SiouxPlains Cree, is a hoop dancer from Canada. She has been dancing for 26 years.
Chumsey Harjo, Muscogee Creek Nation from Henryetta, OK, is a champion Fancy dancer that still competes at the age of 68

Marvin Joe Curry Seneca Veteran’s Pow Wow

New York’s largest pow wow lived up its reputation as dancers from across the country attended the Veterans pow wow on the Seneca Allegany Reserve in Western New York in July 2016.

The weekend hosted veterans groups from as far west as North Dakota and New Mexico and Native bikers from the American Legion and Redrum Motorcycle Club.

Here are great images by Matias.

Male Head Dancer Keith Hill
A young Smoke Dancer showing off her skillful dance moves

41st Annual Cherokee Pow Wow

Thanks again to the travels of ICMN’s Matias, we were also able to bring our readers images from the 41st annual Cherokee Pow wow, held on top of the Great Smoky Mountains every July 4th.

Dancers from across Indian country came to take part in the contests, dance among friends and get a firsthand view of Saturday night’s Cherokee War Dance Special.

First Place Jingle Dress Champion Erica Issennock figures out a way to stay cool
War Dance contestant Mike Crowe Jr wearing pre-contact Cherokee regalia

New York FDR Pow Wow

ICMN’s photographer Alex Hamer was onsite this September at the 24th annual FDR Pow Wow and Native American Festival at FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights, New York.

The two-day event featured dancers from both North America and South America. Some of the nations represented were the Dakota, the Haudenosaunee, the Aztecs and the Shinnecock Nation.

Here are a few great images by Hamer.

Jaden Parker, Tonawanda Seneca, shows poise and control
A crowd favorite, Coda Hunter, Shinnecock and Lumbee demonstrates a hoop dance
Dancers share a laugh during the intertribal dance portion

The Rocky Boy Reservation Pow Wow

The Rocky Boy Reservation in north-central Montana — home to the Chippewa Cree Tribe — observed its 100th birthday on September 7, 2016.

Thanks to ICMN’s Jackie McNeel, some great photos were captured of the 52nd annual pow wow with 800 registered competition dancers, 29 drum groups and upwards of a thousand attendees from many reservations and states including many of the tribe’s Cree relatives from Canada.

A youth pow wow was also held a day before the adult pow wow.

Zac Hoops, Tiny Tot Winner from Fort Belknap
Traditional women dancers at grand entry

Nottoway Indian Tribe of VA Pow Wow

2016 marked the ninth annual pow wow for the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia in Surry County Virginia. The tribe first received state recognition in the Commonwealth of Virginia on February 26, 2010.

Here are a few great images from their September 2016 pow wow.

Chief Lynette Allston (center, seated) is proud of the male warriors in her tribe
A young male warrior looks into the camera without fear

The 2016 Stone Mountain Pow Wow

The 16th Annual Stone Mountain Indian Festival and Pow Wow was held in Georgia on Nov 3-6, 2016. ICMN photographer Amy Morris was there to capture the spectacular colors of the Fall event.

The largest Native American festival in Georgia, a vibrant pow wow hosts a dance and drum competition with over 100 participants from all over the US and Central America.

Champion dancer Cody Boettner- 1st place Mens Fancy
In his patriotic regalia, Charles LittleEagle, Kiowa, Vietnam Veteran from Carnegie, OK

Happy New Pow Wow Year 2017!

Follow Vincent Schilling (Akwesasne Mohawk) – ICMN’s Arts and Entertainment, Pow Wows and Sports Editor, News Photographer and Political Contributor – Follow @VinceSchilling