41st Dance for Mother Earth Powwow
The 41th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow will be on April 6 & 7 at the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. Updates and Announcments soon to come about vendor applications and Powwow artwork contest. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow's 40th Birthday!
NEW ANNOUNCMENTS:
- Powwow location for 2013 will be different than 2012! We will now be at Criseler Arena.
- Media coverage from Powwow
- Please view winners of dance compeitions and winners of the drum compeition.
- Bunky Echo-Hawk performed Live Art during Grand Entry. Competition dancing started today.
- We are excited to announce that Bunky Echo-Hawk will perform during 40th Celebrations!
If you'd like to speak to the Powwow Committee please email us.
Main Entrance is located on the side furtherest from the football stadium facing the parking lot.
Dancer registration will be located in the tunnel which is located between the main entrance and the football stadium on the parking lot side. For more information on the newly renovated Crilser Center - formly name Crilser Arena please visit mgoblue.com. If this will be your first Powwow or you want to learn more about the Powwow, please view our visitors page.
History
The Powwow was started in 1972 by a community group, American Indians at the University of Michigan (AIUM), at that time primarily a staff, faculty and graduate student group. The Native American Student Association (NASA) which primarily was an undergraduate group was formed in 1976, at which time they began helping out with the Powwow as well. Traditionally, every year NASA would evolve into a group whose emphasis was planning the powwow. This group consisted of community members and students (undergraduate and graduate students alike) who work year-round on making Powwow a success by fundraising and publicizing for the up-coming year. Each year, the Powwow grew to be bigger and better and it was then that the Powwow was brought under U of M's financial umbrella which was in 1982.
The Powwow has had a number of locations, including: Huron High School, the League, the Union, Ypsilanti's Cleary College, the Coliseum and Pioneer High School. In 1990, it moved to Crisler Arena, where it immediately doubled in size and where it remained until 2008.
In 2008, the powwow committee made the decision to turn down direct funding from the University of Michigan. The powwow moved to Saline Middle School in Saline, Michigan, just south of Ann Arbor. There is no reduction in the size of the powwow with this move. This fieldhouse-type facility has more room for vendors, is handicap accessible and has adequate, free parking for visitors and participants.
The Powwow Committee has been privileged to work with many coordinators since its beginning. These coordinators have helped the Powwow's attendance increase dramatically, strengthened the Powwow's ties to the local community, expanded the educational aspect of its mission and aided the committee in many ways.
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