Pášx̣apa Powwow

Whitman College is excited to announce the second Pášx̣apa Powwow, taking place on campus Saturday, May 3, 2025. This event will bring together tribal leaders, honored guests, drummers and dancers from throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Schedule of Events

11:30 a.m. Opening Remarks & Prayer
12 p.m. Grand Entry and Drumming & Dancing
4 p.m. Break
6 p.m. Grand Entry and Drumming & Dancing

Contestant winners will be announced throughout the powwow as scores are tallied.

Registration

Dancer Registration

Please complete the online registration form to register as a dancer. Dancers completing the registration online by Thursday, May 1 will receive 25 points toward their competition score.

The competition categories are:

Tiny Tots (1-6)
Golden Age Men (55+)
Golden Age Women (55+)
Men's Fancy/Grass (18-54)
Women's Fancy/Jingle (18-54)
Men's Traditional (18-54)
Women's Traditional (18-54)
Teen Boys Fancy/Grass (13-17)
Teen Girls Fancy/Jingle (13-17)
Teen Boys Traditional (13-17)
Teen Girls Traditional (13-17)
Boys Fancy/Grass (7-12)
Girls Fancy/Jingle (7-12)
Boys Traditional (7-12)
Girls Traditional (7-12)
Veteran's Honor Song
Jingle Dress Session 1 Special (18+)
Slick Style Session 2 Special (18+)

Drum Registration

We looked forward to welcoming up to 10 drums to the 2025 Pášx̣apa Powwow. Interested drums should complete the online registration form to signifiy their interest in participating. This registration must be completed by Friday, April 4.

In addition to this registration, each drum lead must complete a W-9 form and a Performance Contract and return them by email to Joanie Lucarelli (lucarej@whitman.edu) by April 18.

Vendor Information

A limited number of vendor spaces will be available for people wishing to sell artwork, crafts or food items or provide information. All vendors shall comply with: The Indian Arts and Craft Act (IACA), 25 U.S.C. § 305-305(e), a truth-in advertising law designed to prevent the sale of goods that are falsely represented to have been made by Indians or sold in a way that conveys the impression that they were made by Indians.

Review further details and complete the online application form to request a vendor space at the Pášx̣apa Powwow. This application must be completed by Friday, April 18.

Volunteer

There will be many opportunities to volunteer for the Pášx̣apa Powwow. More information will be available in March.

Location

Sherwood Athletic Center, 47 S Park St, Walla Walla, WA 99362

Why “Pášx̣apa”?

Pášx̣apa, meaning Place of the Wild Sunflowers, is the Cayuse name for the Walla Walla Valley. By giving this name to our powwow, we honor the original inhabitants of this area at the same time that we welcome their descendants to return and hold this sacred event on Whitman’s campus.

The pášx̣a plant is known in English as Arrowleaf Balsam Root.