Photos: 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow debuts after two-year hiatus from COVID-19
The 53rd Annual Kyiyo Pow Wow Celebration returned to the University of Montana campus on April 22-23 after the event took a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The celebration honored the life and advocacy work of Blackfeet Chief Earl Old Person, a nationally renowned Indigenous leader who died last year. Old Person was named honorary master of ceremonies for the powwow.
The powwow was organized by students and faculty advisors from the Kyiyo Native American Student Association and was held in the Adams Center. The event kicked off with the Grand Entry, where enrolled representatives of each tribal nation in Montana carried their respective flags to the center floor.
Competitions and displays of traditional dancing and drumming dominated the event. The theme of the celebration was “Every Child Matters.” Its goal was to bring awareness to the history of Native American boarding schools and the intergenerational trauma that still lingers for Indigenous people today.
Lynell Shepherd, a student at UM, has been named Miss Kyiyo for the last three years. She said she was happy for herself, her friends and her family to experience the event in person again.
“It’s nice to have everybody come together and dancing. You don’t even have to be a dancer or a singer. You could just come and watch,” Shepherd said. “I missed all the love and comfort it brought with everyone being together.”
Following Old Person’s death, UM established an endowment in his name to provide funds for future Kyiyo Pow Wows. While the endowment grows with donations from private donors, the Kyiyo student group still relies on fundraising efforts and other contributions to fund the celebration.
-Tye Brown
A young dancer dressed in regalia looks out into the main stage of the Adams Center as day-one celebrations for the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow get under way on April 22. Attendees and participants from across Montana and beyond gathered on Friday and Saturday as the powwow made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Salisha Old Bull, right, fixes her son Inshiye Pete's hair before pow wow celebrations begin at the Adams Center. Old Bull and Pete made trip from Arlee to rejoice with attendees and participants from various Indigenous communities across Montana for a night of dance and culture.
Jonathon Nomee reacts as he looks down at his two-month old son, Jhett, who is fast asleep on a cradleboard on Nomee's lap as the pair prepares to compete at the first entry of the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow. Nomee, Jhett and his wife made the trip from Worley, Idaho.
Dave Brown Eagle, a member of the Spokane tribe, prepares to join participants on the dance floor during the event's first grand entry of the evening. The Kyiyo Pow Wow is an annual cultural gathering for Indigenous students and the broader community at the University of Montana to compete in drum and dance performances.
Dancers from across the state and beyond perform around center stage during the Flag & Victory Song event. Last year the Kyiyo Native American Student Association received money from the University to fund this year's powwow, but the group was left out of a $15,000 endowment promised by UM in November 2021.
A drummer reacts during the drum roll call event as day-one Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations get underway at the Adams Center.
A dance competitor takes center stage as contest dancing competitions kick off at the Adams Center.
A young dancer shows off her moves in front Adams Center attendees during the Tiny Tots and Intertribal Social Song event at the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow.
A dancer prepares to go on stage during invocation ceremonies at the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow at the Adams Center.
A dance competitor takes a break to scroll on hr phone as 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations get underway at the Adams Center after a two-year hiatus from COVID-19. Generations of dancers from young kids to elders from across the country gathered last April 22 and 23 to celebrate Indigenous heritage and traditions.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
Scenes from the 53rd Kyiyo Pow Wow celebrations held at the Adams Center on April 22 and 23. The event made its debut after a two-year hiatus from the pandemic.
