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50 Years of Celebration: The Dance for Mother Earth Powwow

"In 1972, when many aspects of Native American religions and sacred ceremonies were still prohibited by law, American Indians at the University of Michigan (AIUM) held their first powwow in Ann Arbor. Over the years, the Native American Student Association (NASA), consisting of community members and students, evolved into a group fully dedicated to making the powwow a success. In March of 2024, the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 50 Years of Celebration: The Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, a variety of voices from multiple generations share what the powwow has meant to them." - Filmmaker Jen Howard

Makayla Grant at 23rd Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow at Crisler Arena, March 1995 Photographer: Kristian Pierson

Makayla Grant at 23rd Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow at Crisler Arena, March 1995 image
Year:
1995
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 26, 1995
Caption:
11-year-old Makayla Grant of Walthill, Neb., waits in line after performing for the judges to record their scores.

Ken Funmaker, Fancy Dancer at 24th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow at Crisler Arena, March 1996 Photographer: Linda Wan

Ken Funmaker, Fancy Dancer at 24th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow at Crisler Arena, March 1996 image
Year:
1996
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, April 1, 1996
Caption:
CONCENTRATING ON CULTURE — Resplendent in brightly colored turkey feathers, 'fancy dancer' Ken Funmaker from Wisconsin waits his turn to compete at the 24th annual Ann Arbor Powwow Sunday at Crisler Arena on the University of Michigan campus. More than 1,000 Native Americans from around North American participated in the weekend-long event.

Nathan Isaac Prepares his Bustle at the 24th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, March 1996 Photographer: Elli Gurfinkel

Nathan Isaac Prepares his Bustle at the 24th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, March 1996 image
Year:
1996
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 30, 1996
Caption:
Nathan Isaac, 16, of the Ojibwe Tribe in Sarnia, Ontario, prepares his bustle, which dancers wear on their backs, before the opening of the 24th Annual Dance for Mother Earth at Crisler Arena Friday.

Joe Salzano Performs Traditional Flute before the 24th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, March 1996 Photographer: Elli Gurfinkel

Joe Salzano Performs Traditional Flute before the 24th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, March 1996 image
Year:
1996
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 30, 1996
Caption:
Joe Salzano, a Choctaw-Italian artists form New York state, plays one of his traditional flutes before the opening of the 24th Annual Ann Arbor Pow Wow at Crisler Arena Friday. Watching are, from left, Mary Foss of Ann Arbor; her daughter, Krystle Wilson, 8; Darcy Chrestensen, 8; and Melissa Cole, 7.

Ben Gasco of Ypsilanti Competes at Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, March 1998 Photographer: William Jordan

Ben Gasco of Ypsilanti Competes at Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, March 1998 image
Year:
1998
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 29, 1998
Caption:
Ben Gasco of Ypsilanti competes in the men's fancy dance at the Ann Arbor Pow Wow at Crisler Arena on Saturday. Gasco, an Odawa, was participating in the 26th annual gathering of America Indians from the Great Lakes region.

Dancers at 4th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, Huron High School Gymnasium, March 1976 Photographer: Jack Stubbs

Dancers at 4th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, Huron High School Gymnasium, March 1976 image
Year:
1976
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 8, 1976
Caption:
Native American dances were featured Saturday and Sunday at the Huron High gymnasium in the Fourth Annual Powwow sponsored by the Ann Arbor Native American Culture School. Wearing traditional tribal dress, the dancers at left were among 146 dancers who were joined by 8 drummers, and 40 singers from seven states and Canada. Observers, the general public and participants like the two girls at the right, numbered 3,000 over the two days of the event, Powwow organizers said. they watched the traditional Native American dancers unfold as 42 traders and artists sold and displayed turquoise, silverwork, baskets and beadwork.

Young Participants at Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, Huron High School Gymnasium, March 1976 Photographer: Jack Stubbs

Young Participants at Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, Huron High School Gymnasium, March 1976 image
Year:
1976
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 8, 1976
Caption:
Native American dances were featured Saturday and Sunday at the Huron High gymnasium in the Fourth Annual Powwow sponsored by the Ann Arbor Native American Culture School. Wearing traditional tribal dress, the dancers at left were among 146 dancers who were joined by 8 drummers, and 40 singers from seven states and Canada. Observers, the general public and participants like the two girls at the right, numbered 3,000 over the two days of the event, Powwow organizers said. they watched the traditional Native American dancers unfold as 42 traders and artists sold and displayed turquoise, silverwork, baskets and beadwork.

Stonehorse Goeman Dances at Huron High School for the 8th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, April 1980 Photographer: Deborah Ouellette

Stonehorse Goeman Dances at Huron High School for the 8th Annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, April 1980 image
Year:
1980
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, April 13, 1980
Caption:
JOYFUL — About 200 Native American Indians came from cities, towns and reservations around the Midwest and Canada to Ann Arbor Saturday to "make a joyful noise" and leave their troubles outside. Indian dancers and musicians gathered at Huron High School Saturday for the eighth annual all-Indian Powwow sponsored by the University of Michigan Native American Student Association. The powwow resumes today from 1 to 6 p.m. Several Midwestern tribes are represented at the meeting, according to Ben Bearskin Sr., organizer of the open powwow. The powwow is a happy celebration, a time to forget grudges, to overlook ailments and feel joy, Bearskin said. Above, Stone Horse Goeman, from Big Fork, Minn., performs a native dance Saturday. A children's dance was held Saturday, along with preliminaries of the adult dance competition. Finals of the adult contest were scheduled for Sunday afternoon. The dance competition begins at 2 p.m. today.