2017 Kyiyo Pow Wow Celebration in Missoula
The U of M Native American Student Association hosts their annual Kyiyo Pow Wow this weekend at the Adams Center.
The Pow Wow is open to the public and will include traditional dances & drumming along with food & art vendors. The 49th annual Kyiyo Pow Wow starts this Friday, with Grand Entry at 7 p.m., and continues Saturday, with Grand Entry at noon and 7 p.m. Admission is $5 per session, or $12 for the weekend. Kids 6 & under and elders 65 & over are free.
The Annual Kyiyo Pow Wow Celebration is one of the oldest traditions of Kyiyo. The annual celebration unifies Native Americans from across the nation in an event full of dancing, singing and sharing of stories. The celebration is a time to preserve the rich heritage of Native Americans and renew the thoughts of the old traditions. The diversity of each tribe represented at the powwow is shown within the dancing styles and traditional dress of the dancers. Although from a wide array of backgrounds, each dancer comes together to celebrate to celebrate what their culture truly represents. Each year the powwow continues to grow, which shows the power of Native people and the perseverance to keep their culture alive.
Fun Fact: "kyiyo" translates to "bear" in the traditional Blackfoot language.