JACKSON, Wyoming – Central Wyoming College and Native American Jump Start present Teton Powwow: Celebrating Native American Culture, Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21, 2002. Jackson Hole and the surrounding area are ancestral lands of native peoples and are valued for their rich natural resources and scenic beauty. Native Americans will share their rich culture, traditions, dance and history at the Teton Powwow.
The public is invited to free Saturday events from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Snow King Events Center. This full day celebration of Native American culture will feature dancers, educational events and workshops. Central Wyoming College Tribal Wisdom Society students and Native American Jump Start will work together to run the powwow and educational zone.
Participants from across the region will share their talents and knowledge in many traditional and contemporary dance forms. The cultural education space opens at 10 a.m. and will offer Native American workshops on the reintroduction of bison, storytelling, hand games, sign language.
There will be arts and crafts booths, including representatives from the Wind River Reservation who will share information about food sovereignty and natural resources. Native American food vendors will offer a variety of delicious food options.
The colorful grand entrance begins at noon with powwow dance competitions in over 24 categories, including traditional chicken dance, fancy dance, jingle dance, and grass dance.
Native American Jump Start Founder Scott Evans says this event will improve the community.
“We are so excited to bring cultural diversity to Jackson and help break down old stereotypical divisions between people,” said Scott Evans, Founder of Native American Jump Start. “The 2022 Teton Powwow will be uniquely beautiful and will add to the fabric of Jackson Hole.”
The Teton Powwow Showcase will take place at the Arts Center on Friday, May 20, from 7-8:30 p.m. This event will showcase the traditional evolution of powwow dance forms and the significance of the insignia worn during each dance. World-class Native American dancers were selected from the Wind River Reservation, Fort Hall Reservation, Pine Ridge Reservation, Rosebud Reservation, Crow Reservation and Blackfeet Reservation for the showcase.
Central Wyoming College (CWC) Jackson, CWC Institute of Tribal Learning, and Native American Jump Start have collaborated since Teton Powwow 2019 to turn this event into an annual educational celebration.
WHAT: Teton Powwow Showcase
OR: Center for the Arts, 240 S Glenwood St, Jackson, WY
WHEN: Friday May 20, 7-8:30 p.m.
COST: $10
WHAT: Teton Powwow: Celebrating Native American Culture
The Cultural Education Zone opens at 10 a.m. with Native American workshops such as bison reintroduction, storytelling, hand games, sign language, and arts, crafts, and food stalls.
OR: Snow King Event Center, 100 E Snow King Ave, Jackson, WY
WHEN: Saturday May 21, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
COST: Free
The 2022 Teton Powwow is supported by the 4JH Grant approved by Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism, Wyoming Humanities Council, Wyoming Community Foundation, Town Square Inns and Snow King Resort. Encouragement and prior support came from the City of Jackson, the Jackson Hole Community Foundation and the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.
Native American Jump Start is a Jackson-based nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for growth and success for Native Americans through education and employment.
With a mission to transform lives and strengthen communities through learning, leadership, and connection, Central Wyoming College offers two bachelor’s degrees, 58 associate’s degrees, and 10 certificates. The college includes a main campus in Riverton, an outreach center and the Alpine Science Institute in Lander, and outreach centers in Jackson and Dubois. Central Wyoming College is a non-tribal Native American Serving Institution (NASNTI) and serves the largest population of Native American students in Wyoming.
