Annual KU Powwow

Below is the 2025 details. Join us on Saturday, April 12, for the 2025 University of Kansas Powwow!

Registration

  • There is no registration fee
  • Opens at 10:00am and closes at 1:00pm
  • Registration is in person at the KU powwow grounds

Grand Entry

12:00 PM and 6:00 PM 


2025 Head Staff

  • Head Man Dancer
    • RJ Tveter, Mandan/Hidatsa 
  • Head Lady Dancer
    • Asjha Tveter, Mandan/Hidatsa 
  • Master of Ceremonies
    • Clifton Goodwill, Plains Cree/Lakota
  • Arena Director
    • Jeremy Shield, Crow
  • Host Drum
    • Bad War Cloud
  • Color Guard 
    • Haskell Color Guard
    • We-Ta-Se American Legion Post 410

*All visiting drums and royalty are welcome and encouraged to join.


2025 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

2025 Specials

  • Jayhawk Tots (0-6)
    • Sponsored by Becky and Bill Welton
  • Head Man Dancer Special - Men's Fancy
    • Sponsored by the Head Man, RJ Tveter & Family
  • Head Lady Dancer Special - Jr. Girls, All Categories
    • In honor of her nieces.
    • Sponsored by the Head Lady, Asjha Tveter & Family
  • Committee Special - Details TBA
  • Women's Traditional - Details TBA
    • Sponsored by Martha Gage in Honor of Mr. Ralph Gage
  • Jingle Dress Special
    • In honor of Corrin's healing and with deep gratitude, the family wants to recognize the spirit of healing, resilience, and renewal.
      • Winner Take All
    • Sponsored by the Family of Corrin LaMere
  • Hot Spot Sidestep Special (18+) 
    • Graduation Special Honoring Hayley Harman "Onsoquah"
      • 1st Prize - $400
      • 2nd Prize - $300
      • 3rd Prize - $200
      • 4th Prize - $100
      • 4 Consolation prizes
    • Sponsored by the Shopteese-Thomas/Harman Family
  • 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 - $400
      • 2nd Prize - $200
      • 3rd Prize - $100
    • Sponsored by Red Corn Family

2025 Schedule


Session #1

12:00 pm

  • Powwow Grand Entry #1 – Bad War Cloud
    • Dancer Registration will close at 1:00 pm
  • Jayhawk Tots 
    • Sponsored by Bill and Becky Welton
  • Jr Girls – All Categories Dance Special
    • Sponsored by Head Lady Asjha Tveter & Family
  • Golden Age Contest - 1 song
    • Women’s Categories (Traditional, Jingle & Fancy)
    • Men’s Categories (Traditional, Grass & Fancy)
  • Adult Category Contest #1 - 1 song
    • Women’s Categories (Fancy, Jingle, Traditional)
    • Men’s Categories (Fancy, Grass, Traditional)
  • KU Graduation Dance Special 
    • Honoring Hailey Harman - Women’s Jingle
    • Hot Spot Sidestep
  • Round of Inter-tribals
  • Kids Categories Dance Contest - 1 song
    • Girls (Traditional, Jingle, Fancy)
    • Boys (Traditional, Grass, Fancy)
  • Powwow Committee Special –#1
    • Women’s Traditional Combined Northern & Southern
  • Teen Categories Dance Contest - 1 song
    • Girls (Traditional, Jingle, Fancy)
    • Boys (Traditional, Grass, Fancy)
       

4:45 pm - Supper Break
 

Session #2

5:45 pm

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

6:00 pm

  • Powwow Grand Entry #2 – Bad War Cloud
  • Men’s Fancy Dance Special 
    • Sponsored Head Man RJ Tveter & Family
  • Adult Category Contest – 2 songs - Back-to-Back
    • Women’s Categories (Fancy, Jingle, Traditional)
    • Men’s Categories (Fancy, Grass, Traditional)
  • Women’s Jingle Dance Special 
    • Giving back to the Circle with Gratitude 
    • Honoring the Healing Journey of Corrin LaMere
    • Sponsored by The Family
  • Clown Dance Special Sponsored by the Red Corn Family
  • KU Powwow Committee Special #2 - TBA
  • Announce Winners

2025 Tentative 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.

Powwow Grounds

  • Our powwow will take place on the new KU Powwow Grounds at the Lied Center. Similar to last year, we recommend bringing lawn chairs.

Special Thank You

  • The committee thanks the KU Operations Team and the Office of the Provost for their dedication and support.

Questions

man at powwow
color guard at powwow
female dancer