This year’s event is an educational powwow designed to raise public awareness of our culture and engage children in the fun of old-school outdoor powwows. We will have some “fun” contests at the powwow grounds. Watch our updated schedule for tiny tots, potato dance, and more. We are a nonprofit, intertribal, all-volunteer organization. Our powwow is the largest Native American Art Market in North Texas.
We will be feeding dancers who dress out for our powwow and provide day pay to help with gasoline. We have very inexpensive camping available through the venue. (see the camping page) Preregistration is recommended as the meals and day pay may be limited to the first forty dancers who register.
IIA’s fundamental powwow values:
1. We bring together friends, family, and community in fellowship.
2. We are dancing for those who can’t.
3. We are sending our prayers up on songs.
Head Staff
Head Singer: Sonny Blackbear, Kiowa
Host Drum: Mended Spirit, formerly Bear Claw
Head Gourd Dancer: Michael Tongkeamha, Kiowa
Head Young Man: Desi Voice, Mvskoke Creek, Oglala Lakota
Head Young Lady: Arayah Gonzalis, Cherokee Nation
Master of Ceremonies: Harold Rogers, Diné
Arena Director: Daniel Alvarez, Apache, Comanche
Color Guard: Daniel Alvarez, Renegade Nation
We hope our Powwow will inspire others to learn more about Native American culture and history. We are delighted to welcome the public into our powwow circle on April 5th and 6th, 2025.
FIRST TIME AT A POWWOW?
We have a pamphlet you can download that explains some of the most common dance styles and traditions. We included suggestions about cultural etiquette at powwows and art markets. These are general suggestions and may not apply to all powwows.
Every powwow committee and its head staff set the protocols for the powwow. You may see differences between indoor and outdoor powwows, Northern and Southern powwows, and even state-to-state differences.
Powwow’s advertised on social media, are open to the public. Our powwow welcomes the public with many opportunities to dance in the intertribal and social dances. We do not require Tribal enrollment and CDIB cards for dancers at our powwow. Hobbyist dancers, please reach out to Annette Anderson at iiamericas.org@gmail.com. We want to be true to our educational mission with a focus on our Native dancers.
*NEW in 2025* COMING HOME DANCE
IIA is hosting a Coming Home Dance on Sunday, April 6th, at NOON. This dance is to welcome children and adults who lost their ties to their Indigenous communities. This includes the impact of divorce, foster care, boarding schools, relocation, adoption, and other circumstances. No regalia is needed to join us for this special acknowledgment and honoring dance.
Let us know you are coming. Our intention to create a safe space for those who are finding their way home to a tribal community. No regalia is required. We ask that our supporters spread the word and encourage others to attend!
POWWOW SCHEDULE – More coming
Our powwow schedule may change based on recommendations from the drum and head staff. We ask our patrons to trust that we always have a good reason for any changes.
Saturday April 5th, 2025
9:30 – Gourd Dance
12:30 – Opening Ceremony/Grand Entry
1:00 – 6:00 – Exhibition Dancing & Community Contests
6:00 – Closing
Sunday, April 6th, 2025
10:00 – Tribal Hymn Singing
11:00 – Exhibition Dancing
12:00 – Coming Home Dance
1:00 – 4:00 – Exhibition Dancing
4:00 – Closing
We will have many exciting exhibitions, social dances, intertribal dances, and fun for the kids. Memorable guest dancers from the Aztec Danza communities. Our powwow is also an opportunity to recognize people in our community who have achieved honors or are requesting a particular song or prayer. We want our gathering to be flexible to meet those needs.
