2024 Spring Social Pow Wow – Saturday, April 13

April 5, 2024
To: General Public
From: Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement
Subject: 2024 Spring Social Pow Wow – Saturday, April 13
Date: Apr 05, 2024

The Tucson Indian Center and the University of Arizona present the 2024 Spring Social Pow Wow on Saturday, April 13, at Bear Down Field, 1440 E. Fourth St. Tucson, AZ 85719.

We invite the entire Tucson and campus community to join us from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be free admission for the entire day beginning with the Tucson Indian Center's Fun Run/Walk beginning at 9 a.m., registration for the event starts at 8:30. A full agenda is available below.

The purpose of our 2024 Spring Social Pow Wow is to gather our local Native American and non-Native American community members together for a celebration of Native American cultural dancing, singing, artistry, health, wellness, and prayer. It is an important cultural event that reinforces cultural traditions and highlights the many different backgrounds of our Native American student population at the university. There are approximately 150 different tribal communities represented on our campus and over 570 federally recognized tribal communities in the U.S.

The Tucson Indian Center is a local social service and health agency that provides a variety of support services for thousands of urban Native American community members. They are an important community partner for our University of Arizona students, faculty, and staff.

The collaboration between the Tucson Indian Center and the University of Arizona in this endeavor is historical in that both entities have hosted their own individual powwow in previous years. The last University of Arizona Wildcat Pow Wow was held 10 years ago. In its most prominent years, during the 1990s, it was organized and run by student organizations on campus.

More information on powwows, including etiquette for attendees, is available on UArizona Indigenous Resilience Center website.

Agenda:

  • 9 a.m.: Fun Run (University Blvd/UA Mall)
  • 10 a.m.: Registration and Marketplace opens
  • 10:45 a.m.: Welcome from Jacob Bernal and blessing provided by Quinton Antone
  • 11 a.m.: Gourd Dance hosted by the Southwest Gourd Society
  • 1 p.m.: First Grand Entry
  • 3 p.m.: Afternoon Break
    • UA Fruit Scramble 
    • TIC Giant Volleyball 
  • 4 p.m.: Second Grand Entry and Community Leadership Recognition
  • 7 p.m.: Closing

Headstaff:

  • Headman: Allen King (Zuni, Pueblo, Navajo)
  • Headwoman: Kate Begay (Tohono O'odham, Ogala Lakota) 
  • Head Youngman: Tyrell Phillips (Navajo)
  • Head Youngwoman: Tahtae Begay (Tohono O'odham/ Ogala Lakota/ Navajo)
  • Master of Ceremonies: Ryan Rumley
  • Arena Director: Dwayne Pierce (Cayuse/ Tohono O'odham)
  • Blessing: Quinton Antone (Tohono O'odham)
  • Northern Drum: Starpoint
  • Southern Drum: Greasewood Singers
  • Host Gourd: Southwest Gourd Society 
  • Color Guard: Yoeme Post 125 (Pascua Yaqui Tribe)

Sponsors include: 

The Tucson Indian Center, the Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement, Native American Student Affairs, the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice, the Indigenous Resilience Center, Native American Initiatives, Native SOAR, and Indigi Wellbeing. 

Primary contacts:

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