Event Canceled
Due to inclement weather this event has been canceled.
Join us at NC Museum of Art for events Friday and Saturday. See below for details.
Saturday, May 18, 2024
11:30 am - 6:30 pm | Harvey Hill at Dix Park
Hosted in partnership with indigenous community organizers, Dix Park Conservancy and City of Raleigh.
Experience a day of competition dancing, music, vendors, and fun showcasing the incredible legacy and culture of Indigenous communities living in North Carolina today.
RSVPs help us plan for the number of attendees and you will be in the know of event updates and weather alerts.
Weekend Events
Presented in partnership with North Carolina Museum of Art
Friday, May 17 | 6:00 pm - 8 :00 pm
NCMA East Building Lobby
Experience an educational Native American cultural showcase highlighting vibrant and diverse traditional dances, embellished with colorful regalia representing North Carolina's Native American Tribes. Accompanied by rhythmic drumming, join us to witness an intimate moment of learning about the rich stories, spiritual connections, and celebration of indigenous heritage on the eve of the 4th Annual Dix Park Pow Wow.
Free to attend. This event is open to the public and no longer requires registration!
Please note: this event has moved to the East Building lobby to accommodate a larger audience.
To Take Shape and Meaning Community Day
Sunday, May 19 | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
NCMA East Building
Enjoy free access to the exhibition To Take Shape and Meaning during community day! Get up close with works of art and artists, plus create your own art inspired by the work of Rose B. Simpson with a special hands-on project. Special guests include The Cypress Society Singers and Dancers with a performance at 1:00 pm and storyteller Ryan Dial presenting stories, traditional flute and in-gallery conversations throughout the day.
Free to attend.
Dix Park Inter-Tribal Pow Wow
Head Dancers
Nakya Leviner & Stevie Leviner
Host Drums
Smokey River
Special Performance
Mack Mckinney & Co
Head Staff
Arena Directors: John Oxendine & Reggie Brewer
Tabulators: Gwen Richardson & LaDonna Richardson
Emcees: Sandon Jacobs & Sharon Harris Berrun
Competition Details
Tribal Citizens and Native Dancers & Drummers from across the state are invited to sign up for the competitions.
On-site Registration: 9:00 - 11:30 am
Prizes awarded by the Dix Park Conservancy
Dance Competition
Adult (18+), Teen (ages 13-17), Junior (ages 5-12), Tiny Tots (ages 0-4)
Men's Adult/Teen/Junior
- Grass
- Traditional
- Fancy
Women's Adult/Teen/Junior
- Jingle
- Traditional (Northern/Southern)
- Fancy
Golden Age Men's & Women's
- All dance styles
Tiny Tots
- Young Native children and toddlers are welcome to dance freely
Adult & Golden Age
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $300
3rd Place: $200
Teen
1st Place: $250
2nd Place: $150
3rd Place: $100
Junior
1st Place: $100
2nd Place: $75
3rd Place: $50
Drum Competition
1st Place: $800
2nd Place: $600
3rd Place: $400
4th Place: $200
Event Schedule
9:00 - 11:30 AM Native Dance Competition Registration
12:00 PM Grand Entry Opening Ceremony
1:00 PM Intertribal Dancing
1:30 PM Tiny Tots
1:40 PM Juniors Competition Dancing
2:00 PM Drum Competition
2:30 PM Teens Competition Dancing
3:00 PM Golden Age Competition Dancing
3:30 PM Speakers/Introduction of Mark McKinny & Co
3:35 PM Mark McKinny & Co.
4:15 PM Inter-Tribal Dancing
4:30 PM Dance Showcase
5:00 PM Adult Competition Dancing
5:30 PM Social Dancing
6:00 PM Announcement of Winners
6:30 PM Closing Songs
Event Map
Event Vendors
ALcouture
Turtle Island Creations, LLC
Pueblo Native Arts and Crafts
Eagle's Dream LLC
J. Egan Designs, LLC
Native Faces
Silver Springs Trading
Ta’chii’nii Creations
Creative Natives Lumbee Artists
Doug's woodworking and jewelry
NATIVE AMERICAN DESIGNS
Thart Make Scents
Nery's
B's Bead Fantasies
Purity by Natasha
Red Earth Gallery Trading Post
Simply Produce
Meherrin Outpost
Lumbee
Aztk Creations
StarLake Designs
Grand Council, Sigma Omicron Epsilon, Inc.
Resilient scents
Motherland Authentic LLC
Long Swamp Trading
El arte en tus manos.
BOL'S Jewelry
Sewing Bees
Nothing But Beadworks LLC
Unrecognized Apparel
Scuffletown Suppliers
Simply Native Jewelry and Boutique
Thank You Event Sponsors
Know Before You Go
- Please come prepared for the weather and be mindful of staying hydrated and protected from the sun.
- Walking will be necessary in and around the event area. Please note, portions of the event have uneven surfaces.
- Indoor restrooms are available at the Stone Houses and at the Chapel from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Additional portable restrooms are on-site, too.
- Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome, but please use your best judgement to determine if your pooch will enjoy the crowd and noise.
- If there is inclement weather, the event will be canceled and we will post alerts on social media and dixpark.org.
What to Bring
- Sunscreen, hats and a re-fillable water bottle
- Bug spray and wear closed-toe shoes
- Camp chairs and blankets
- Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed
Getting There + Parking
Driving
- Via Western Boulevard: Enter at S. Boylan Avenue or Hunt Drive
- Via Centennial Parkway: Enter at Blair Drive
Parking
-
Follow event signs
- See map below for recommended event parking.
Biking or Walking
- Via Rocky Branch Greenway: Enter at S. Boylan Avenue
- Via Centennial Bikeway Connector: Enter at Blair Drive
Accessibility
Dix Park continues to strive to be accessible and welcoming for visitors, including those with disabilities. Currently, portions of Dix Park, including some areas where programs and events occur, have uneven surfaces and are not fully accessible. Accessibility is a primary focus for early park improvements and all future planning and development.
Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available in all lots.
Restrooms: Indoor accessible restrooms are available at the Stone Houses and the Chapel. Accessible port-a-johns are located at the Big Field and Flowers Field.
Programs and events: Raleigh Parks Inclusion Services works with community members to support participation. To request a program modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form or contact Inclusion Services staff at 919-996-2147 or ParksInclusion@raleighnc.gov.
Questions?
Contact Dix Park Staff at 919-996-3255 or events@dixpark.org
Pow Wow Planning Committee
Dix Park Conservancy, Triangle Native American Society and other Native leaders chose representatives from tribes in North Carolina, and staff with the NC Museum of History to plan the first Inter-Tribal Pow Wow at Dorothea Dix Park. Meet the faces behind the event:
Christina Strickland Theodorou
Lumbee Tribe
Christina Strickland Theodorou has worked in tribal leadership development and an advocate of generating equity, parity and balance for indigenous communities. A graduate of UNC-Pembroke, Christina has 15 years’ experience working in tribal affairs on state, university and federal levels. While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Theodorou led efforts as one of the founders of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, an American Indian women’s organization geared at helping with retention efforts of native female students, and supporting the professional development of native women nationally.
Sandon Jacobs
Waccamaw-Siouan
Sandon is an enrolled member of the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe of NC from the Buckhead Community. After graduating from UNC Pembroke in 1999, he moved to the Triangle to begin his career in software development. Sandon lives in North Raleigh with his wife (Brandi) and their daughters (Kaylee and Kaydon). He had the privilege of visiting Native communities throughout the US and Canada as a powwow singer and MC for the past 30 years.
Dana L. Chavis
Lumbee Tribe
Dana is a native of Raeford, NC, but graduated from NCSSM in Durham, NC. She obtained her undergraduate degree in History from Duke University and her Master of Public Administration from UNC-Pembroke. In May 2020, she graduated cum laude with her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law. After successfully passing the NC Bar exam in July 2020, she was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in the Fall of 2020. She is employed at SECU as Staff Counsel. Dana is the proud mother of two adult daughters, Aubrey and Arielle, who are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. Since childhood, she has attended pow-wows and love the feeling of family and community that is experienced every time she hears the drum and see the dancers. It is an experience that she cannot wait to share with every person who attends this pow-wow.
Olivia Richardson
Haliwa-Saponi Tribe
Olivia Richardson is a member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe of Hollister, NC. She received her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting, and her Masters in Accounting from East Carolina University of Greenville, NC. She currently lives in Raleigh, NC and works as a Senior Accountant for Southern Industrial Constructors, Inc. Olivia has traveled the powwow trail since a very young age. She has been a jingle dancer her entire life. Her passion for this dance comes directly from its meaning -- healing. One of her most memorable life moments was being crowned Miss Indian North Carolina 2013-2014, having the honor and privilege of representing all Natives of North Carolina.
Joshua L. Richardson
Haliwa-Saponi Tribe
Joshua is from Hollister, North Carolina, and a citizen of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian tribe. Joshua received his Juris Doctorate with highest honors from North Carolina Central University School of Law. While in law school, he assisted his colleagues in reactivating the Native American Law Students Association and hosted the inaugural Soaring Eagle Powwow on NCCU’s Campus. He is currently an associate attorney for Buckley LLP, and he serves as an ex officio member of the NC Commission of Indian Affairs as the NC Native American Council on Higher Education (NCNACOHE) Representative.
Trey Roberts
Haliwa-Saponi Tribe
Trey is from Hollister, NC and is part of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe. He graduated with a BA in Communications from William Peace University and currently resides in Raleigh, NC. Trey is currently the Community Engagement Manager for the Dix Park Conservancy. He is very proud to be able to work alongside the City of Raleigh and the planning committee to bring the first pow wow to Dix Park, contribute to the fabric of his culture, and honor the use of the land in pre-colonial Raleigh.