Powwow season is upon us. It serves as a reminder that no matter where life takes us, community and tradition can always bring us home.
The 2025 ICT Powwow Guide is here, with 170+ powwows across North America and all-new stories that celebrate how gathering connects us to who we are.
This year’s letter from our editor, Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, tells of a moment thousands of miles from home, where one powwow became a source of comfort, clarity, and connection. It’s a reminder that this shared tradition holds us, even when we’re far from where we began.
Inside the guide:
- A visual journey through the history of powwows
- An Omaha father keeps his family’s powwow traditions alive through drumming, and now hopes to pass the beat to his son.
- An ICT explainer breaking down the distinct regalia, footwork, and origins of men’s and women’s powwow dance styles.
- A mouthwatering ode to powwow cuisine, from fry bread burgers to corn soup, because the food is as memorable as the dancing and drumming.
- An animated short by Joey Clift, ‘POW!’ blends Native storytelling and retro visuals to capture the humor and hustle of a kid’s powwow experience.
- An iconic Indigenous road movie recently inducted into the National Film Registry, ‘Powwow Highway’ sits at the intersection of humor, activism, and spiritual journey.
Whether you’re a lifelong dancer, a first-time visitor, or just looking for that taste of home, this guide is your invitation to take part in a celebration that brings us together in movement, memory, and meaning.
No matter where you are, powwow season brings us all a little closer.