Annual KU Powwow

Registration

• There is no registration fee
• Opens at 10:30am and closes at 1:00pm
• Registration is in person on the Main Stage, Lied Center of Kansas

Grand Entry

12:00 PM and 6:00 PM 

2026 Head Staff

• Head Man Dancer

  • Deo Topsky

• Head Lady Dancer

  • Star Her Many Horses

• Master of Ceremonies

  • Manny King

• Arena Director

  • Jeremy Shield, Crow

• Host Drum

  • Little Soldier

• Color Guard 

  • We-Ta-Se Post #410

*Visiting drums and royalty are welcome and encouraged to join.

2026 Categories

The committee reserves the right to combine categories if a dance category has less than 5 registered dancers.

Combined categories will be announced at 1:15 pm.

• Junior Boys & Girls (7-12)

  • Grass, Traditional, Fancy, Jingle 

• Teen Boys & Girls (13-17)

  • Grass, Traditional, Fancy, Jingle

• Ladies & Men (18+)

  • Grass, Traditional, Fancy, Jingle

• Golden Age Ladies &Men (50+)

  • Grass, Traditional, Fancy, Jingle

2026 Specials

• Tiny Tots (0-6)

  • Sponsored by Indigenous-Kwe

• Head Lady Dancer Special - Women's Traditional Showcase

  • Three Champions - One for each category
    • Appliqué
    • No. Traditional
    • So. Traditional
  • Prizes
    • $300, Starquilt & Gifts for each champion
    • 6 Consolation Winners
  • Sponsored by Star Her Many Horses & Family

• Head Man Dancer Special - Men's Traditional

  • Prizes - TBA
  • Sponsored by Deo Topsky & Family

• Committee Special - Details TBA

  • Category determined by powwow/festival committee.
    • 1st Prize - TBA
    • 2nd Prize - TBA
    • 3rd Prize - TBA
  • Sponsored by the Powwow/Festival Committee.

• Committee Special - Details TBA

  • Category determined by number of registered dancers.
    • 1st Prize - TBA
    • 2nd Prize - TBA
    • 3rd Prize - TBA
  • Sponsored by Martha Gage and Family, in Honor of Mr. Ralph Gage

• Clown Dance Special

  • Everyone is welcome and invited to join in. 
  • To participate, bring your funniest costume and keenest dance steps to shine. 
    • 1st Prize - $300
    • 2nd Prize - $200
    • 3rd Prize - $100
  • Sponsored by Red Corn Family

2026 Schedule

Session #1

12:00 pm

• Powwow Grand Entry #1 
  • Dancer Registration will close at 1:00 pm
• Flag Song & Victory Song
• Powwow Welcome Address
  • Miss Indian World & KU Graduate Student, Dania Wahwasuck
• Tiny Tots
  • Sponsored by Indigenous KWE
• Star Her Many Horses Head Lady Dancer Special- Women's Southern Traditional 
  • 1st Round
• Golden Age Category Dance Contest
  • Women’s Categories (Traditional, Jingle & Fancy)
  • Men’s Categories (Traditional, Grass & Fancy)
• Adult Category Dance Contest
  • Women’s Categories (Fancy, Jingle, Traditional)
  • Men’s Categories (Fancy, Grass, Traditional)
• Junior Category Dance Contest
  • Girls (Traditional, Jingle, Fancy)
  • Boys (Traditional, Grass, Fancy)
• Powwow Committee Special
  • Honoring Miss Indian World & KU Graduate Student, Dania Wahwasuck
• Teen Categories Dance Contest
  • Girls (Traditional, Jingle, Fancy)
  • Boys (Traditional, Grass, Fancy)
• Star Her Many Horses Head Lady Dancer Special- Women's Northern Traditional
  • 2nd Round
• Honor Song - KU Graduate Student, Lauryn Callis

4:45 pm - Supper Break
 

Session #2

5:45 pm

• Recognition of the Dr. Melissa Peterson Education Advocacy and Leadership Award

6:00 pm

• Star Her Many Horses Head Lady Dancer Special- Women's Appliqué
  • 3rd Round
• Adult Category Dance Contest
  • Women’s Categories (Fancy, Jingle, Traditional)
  • Men’s Categories (Fancy, Grass, Traditional)
• Star Her Many Horses Head Lady Dancer Special
  • Top 9 finalists - Dance Off & Give Away
• Deo Topsky Head Man Dancer Special- Men's Traditional
• Clown Dance Special
  • Sponsored by the Red Corn Family
• Powwow Committee Dance Special
  • Sponsored by Martha Gage and Family, in Honor of Ralph Gage
• Announce Winners

2026 Powwow Prizes

Junior Boys & Girls (7-12)

• Grass, Traditional, Fancy, Jingle

• 1st $75, 2nd $50, 3rd $25 

Teen Boys & Girls (13-17)

• Grass, Traditional, Fancy, Jingle

• 1st $125, 2nd $75, 3rd $50 

Ladies & Men (18+)

• Grass, Traditional, Fancy, Jingle 

• 1st $250, 2nd $150, 3rd $125 

Golden Age Ladies & Men (50+): 

• Grass, Traditional, Fancy, Jingle 

• 1st $250, 2nd $150, 3rd $125

   

*Minimum prizes, final amounts, and the number of places are dependent on the number of registered dancers in each category.