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The University of Kansas First Nations Student Association (FNSA), in collaboration with the Lied Center, will host the 29th annual KU Powwow and 2nd annual Indigenous Culture Festival on April 1, 2017. The festival is a free community event featuring a day-long Powwow as well as activities including Indigenous films, educational workshops and children’s activities focused on Indigenous cultures and history. Regional Indigenous artists and craftspeople will have items for sale. In addition, Indigenous food items will be available for purchase throughout the day.
FNSA has presented the KU Powwow for 29 years with limited support and collaboration, but last year, FNSA and the Lied Center established a partnership with a vision to foster the growth of unique educational opportunities for KU, Lawrence, and neighboring communities. This collaboration brought new resources and significant increases in contest participants, community attendance, cultural experts, food vendors, and craft vendors. The result was over 3,000 local and regional attendees for what was possibly the first sanctioned Powwow to be held on a performing arts center stage.
Although collegiate Powwows are typically single-day events compared to the customary three-day celebrations hosted by tribal nations and organizations, the current festival has potential to grow. The competitions at Powwows are intertribal, but are categorized by age, gender, and specific dance and singing styles from all across North America. Powwows restore the hearts, minds, and bodies of Indigenous People by keeping them active — more young women and men are proud to grow their hair long, learn how to bead, sew, dance, sing, make our instruments, and learn our languages so we can make, listen and dance to plentiful songs that heal and bring joy to many. This has led to a rampant growth in popularity for Powwows across the United States and Canada.
Consider donating a gift of any size to maintain free access to this unique event that will help advance diversity and equity initiatives at the University and in our local communities. With your help, the Powwow and Indigenous Culture Festival can continue as an annual community event, increase regional participation, and even draw a broader, multi-state audience to make this an annual highlight for our community.
If you have further questions, please contact Melissa Peterson, FNSA advisor.
For more information about attending the festival on April 1, please visit the Lied Center website.
Help provide activities including Indigenous films, educational workshops and children’s activities focused on Indigenous cultures and history. Donors at this level will be recognized in our 2017 Festival program.
Sponsor a prize for a junior level dancer during the Powwow. The competitions are intertribal but categorized by age, gender, and specific dance and singing styles. Donors at this level will be recognized in our 2017 Festival program and over the loudspeaker prior to the sponsored event.
Sponsor a prize for a teen level dancer during the Powwow. Donors at this level will be recognized in our 2017 Festival program and over the loudspeaker prior to the sponsored event.
Sponsor a prize for an adult level dancer during the Powwow. Donors at this level will be recognized in our 2017 Festival program and over the loudspeaker prior to the sponsored event.
Sponsor a prize for a golden age level dancer (age 55+) during the Powwow. This level is one of the most prized categories, as golden age participants share their vast experience through generations of dance movements from across North America. Donors at this level will be recognized in our 2017 Festival program and on the loudspeaker prior to the sponsored event.
Help us sponsor head staff honorariums for KU alumni who are role models giving back to their Native communities. Donors at this level will have their name added to all marketing materials before the Powwow and festival, be recognized on stage at the start of grand entry, and invited to a special reception before the event.
Help create opportunities that can make a meaningful and lasting impact for our community through the sponsorship of the 2017 Festival. Donors at this level will have their name added to all marketing materials before the Powwow and festival, be recognized on stage at the start of grand entry and at the presentation of prizes, and be invited to a special reception before the event.