Montana State University’s will hold its 2021 American Indian Council Powwow online March 22-28, in adherence to COVID-19 restrictions. Activities will be held throughout a week at the AIC website and Facebook page.
 
Traditionally, the MSU American Indian Council Powwow is one of the largest powwows in Montana. Organizers are conducting many of the traditional activities online, said Lisa Perry, adviser to the AIC and director of American Indian/Alaskan Native Student Success in MSU’s Department of Native American Studies.

“We think the format will work and it gives the opportunity to keep the powwow going,” Perry said. She added that this year’s powwow, with its non-traditional format, will be the 45th powwow at MSU.
 
Perry said that each day during powwow week will be devoted to one category, with all participating dancers selecting songs from the host drum group, Young Grey Horse from Browning. and under can upload videos of themselves dancing to a Young Grey Horse song to the AIC MSU Facebook page. Contest entries must use the hashtag #2021MSUAICPOWWOW.

 
*Monday will be youth day for ages 12 and under
*Tuesday’s events will be chicken dance and traditional
*Wednesday will be devoted to jingle dress and grass dances
*Thursday will be the three-man hand drum contest
*Friday will be the fancy dance competition.
 
Perry said there will be three categories: youth for ages 12 and under; teen, ages 13-17; and adult for ages 18 and above. There will be cash prizes ranging from $100 to $600 with one prize for each age category per dance style. Winners will be announced on the Facebook page at noon on Sunday, March 28. for more information about the prizes, go to the American Indian Council’s webpage.

There will be an AIC webpage dedicated to MSU powwow royalty and visiting royalty featuring photos and titles. Additionally, there will be a link on the website for vendors who usually attend the powwow to showcase their wares.

Perry commended the officers of MSU’s American Indian Council for innovations that are making the powwow possible. AIC co-presidents are Holly Old Crow, a senior majoring in sociology and a member of the Crow Nation, and Allison Longtimesleeping-Reyos, a sophomore majoring in kinesiology and a member of the Blackfeet tribe. Perry said the group has already selected a date for the 2022 powwow, March 25–26, 2022, which is being planned for the traditional, in-person format.

The American Indian Council raises funds to help ensure the powwow is free. The MSU Department of Native American Studies and multiple colleges, departments and programs, as well as off-campus organizations, also contribute. This year’s powwow is sponsored by the MSU Department of Native American Studies and the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation.

For more information about the powwow, go to montana.edu/aic or contact Lisa Perry at 406-994-4880 or lisa.perry2@montana.edu or Nick Ross-Dick, ned@montana.edu or go to the AIC’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/americanindiancouncilofmsu.