Saturday, August 26, 2023
The Big Field | 11:30am - 6:30pm
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.
RSVP
This event is free and open to the public with no ticket required. However, RSVPs help us plan for how many folks are attending and we can send you important event updates including inclement weather alerts.
Head Dancers
Sage Dimalanta & Isaiah Robinson
Host Drums
Red Clay
Special Performance
Mark McKinney & Co.
Head Staff
Arena Directors: Mike Richardson & John Oxendine
Tabulators: LaDonna D. Richardson & Gwen Richardson
Emcees: Sandon Jacobs & JD Moore
Pow Wow 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 Social Dancing/Hoop Dance (Cheyenne)
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.
4:05 PM Specials 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
Vendors
Native Faces
Ta’chii’nii Creations
The Luna Tree
NC Medicaid Enrollment Broker
Triangle Native American Society
Indian Heritage Commission
Healthy Blue
BOL’s Jewelry
Red Earth Gallery
Vana Bai Clay
Fruity Tees
Two Native Women, Locks Design
ALcouture
Pueblo Native Arts and Crafts
Simply Produce Farm
Living Traditions
B’s Bead Fantasies
Doug’s Wood Working & Jewelry
Scuffletown Suppliers
Unrecognized Apparel
That Makes Scents
LumberSprings Designs
Ck.co
My Natural Me
Creative Natives Lumbee Artists
Twobears Native Crafts
Turtle Island Creations
Maximus
North Carolina School of Math and Science
Commission of Indian Affairs
Food Vendors
Goin's Kitchen (fry bread)
The Cookhouse (fry bread)
Two Native's Smokehouse
Poblano's
Tasty Turkey Que
Naked Empanada
Lao Lao
454 Grill
The Greek Goat
Jay's Italian Ice
Jam Ice Cream
Bolt Beverages and Coffee
Know Before You Go
- It's going to be HOT! We'll have mist tents, water bottle fill stations and some shade tents.
- 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.
- Portable restrooms will be available at the event site. ADA accessible facilities will be included.
- Indoor restrooms are available at the Chapel from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
- Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome, but please use your best judgement to determine if your pooch will enjoy the crowd and noise.
- If we need to cancel for inclement weather, and email will go out through Eventbrite (Please RSVP) and we'll post on social media.
What to Bring
- Sunscreen, hats, umbrellas 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 to Dix Park
Dix Park visitors should use either Western Boulevard to enter at S. Boylan Avenue or Hunt Drive, or Centennial Parkway to enter at Blair Drive.
Parking
Parking is available in all paved and gravel lots.
Due to the high volume of people and limited parking, please carpool if possible.
Please Note: Lake Wheeler Road Closure
Construction activity will close the section of Lake Wheeler Road between South Saunders Street and Maywood Avenue from Friday, August 25 at 7:00 pm through Sunday, August 27.
Traffic will be detoured by way of South Saunders Street and Maywood Avenue during the road closure.
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.