The KU First Nations Student Association will host its 36th annual powwow and cultural festival, preceded by screenings and a concert.
Powwow events and activities, all free and open to the public, are set to begin at 9 a.m. with grand entry at noon and 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive.
Ahead of the big day, associated events begin with a screening of Fancy Dance, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. It’s free to attend and open to the public. It will be followed by a panel discussion on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and relatives.
The next event will be a screening of short films by director Kyle Bell, Thlopthlocco Creek Tribal Town, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10 at the Lawrence Arts Center Black Box Theatre, 940 New Hampshire St. Spirits (Poyvfeckv) and Lakota will be shown, followed by a talkback moderated by Joshua Miner, KU film and media studies faculty member. It is also free and open to all.
The Lied Center will feature Digging Roots, an award-winning duo that “breathes life into songs from their land, Turtle Island, to raise their voices in solidarity with a global chorus of Indigenous artists, activists and changemakers,” according to the venue. That’s set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11; find info about tickets at this link.
On Saturday, April 12, events will open with the raising of the tipi at 9 a.m. on the Lied Center lawn.
At 10 a.m., Jancita Warrington, Menominee/Potawatomi, will present on Powwow 101 inside the Lied Center Pavilion.
Powwow participants will enter the arena at noon for Grand Entry No. 1, and the dancing will begin.
Throughout the afternoon, there will be activities for all ages, including an inflatable basket weaving activity from 1 to 5:30 p.m. There are some workshops that require registration; find details and links to sign up along with the full schedule on this page.
Haskell Indian Nations University and KU students will present research and projects they’ve completed. Work will be on view from noon to 5:30 p.m. on the Lied Center stage, and students will be present from 2 to 3:30 p.m. to talk about their work.
Some panels and speakers will present in the Lied Center Pavilion:
• James Pepper Henry, former vice chair of the Kaw Nation, will present at 1 p.m. on the rematriation efforts to bring Iⁿ ‘zhúje ‘waxóbe, the Sacred Red Rock, back to the Kaw people.
• Artist Chris Pappan, Kanza, Lakota, Osage, and participants in his Indigenous Arts initiative Low Brow and Ledger Art workshop will present on ledger art during a 2:30 p.m. panel.
• Bell and participants in his Indigenous Arts Initiative Short Documentary Storytelling workshop will screen short films and talk about their experiences during a panel at 4 p.m.
The second Grand Entry is set for 6 p.m. after supper break.
Information on powwow etiquette and answers to frequently asked questions are available at this link. Organizers recommend bringing lawn chairs.
Check out the 2025 powwow categories at this link. There is no registration fee, and registration is in person at the powwow grounds.
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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
