Map showing alternate routes to the IAIA campus.

On Saturday, October 7, from 11 am to 5 pm, the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) will hold its annual Fall Powwow. With the energy and spirit of the dancers and drum groups, IAIA Powwows are a vibrant display of our Tribal cultures—embodying the IAIA community’s resilience. This free outdoor event is open to the public on the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) campus at 83 Avan Nu Po Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508. Please keep in mind that a section of Richards Ave is closed. Use alternate routes via Rabbit Rd or Rancho Viejo Blvd.

Grand Entry begins at noon in the IAIA Dance Circle. The IAIA Community will provide food, drink, and art sales. Visitors may bring their own lawn chairs. Umbrellas and canopies are allowed in available open spaces.

During the IAIA Powwow event, we will be holding a vaccination clinic. It’s an excellent opportunity to protect yourself and others from these illnesses. Please bring your health insurance information with you. In order to get vaccinated, you will need to fill out a consent form (available in person during the event). For more information or questions about the vaccination clinic, please contact Laurie Logan Brayshaw, Sponsored Programs Director, at llogan@iaia.edu.

Head Staff

• Host Drums: Black Eagle and ShieldChief
• Head Dancer: Head Dancer: Kayla Wanatee (Meskwaki Nation [Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa])
• Head Dancer: Isaiah St. Cyr (Ho-Chunk)
• Emcee: James Edwards (Pawnee, Northern Cheyenne, and Comanche)
• Arena Director: Terry Pecos (Jemez Pueblo)

Contest Categories

• Golden Age Men
• Golden Age Women
• Adult Men Traditional, Fancy, and Grass and Chicken
• Adult Women Traditional, Fancy, and Jingle
• Teen Boys Traditional, Fancy, and Grass and Chicken
• Teen Girls Traditional, Fancy, and Jingle
• Junior Boys (Age 6–12) Traditional, Fancy, and Grass and Chicken
• Junior Girls (Ages 6–12) Traditional, Fancy, & Jingle
• Tiny Tots (5 and under)

All dancers are invited to dance in the category that aligns with their identity—judging will be based on dance style, not gender.

If you have any vendor-related questions, please contact Karen Redeye (Seneca), Student Success Advisor, at karen.redeye@iaia.edu or (505) 424-2328. For powwow information, contact Lorissa Garcia (Acoma Pueblo), Interim Director of Student Success, at lorissa.garcia@iaia.edu or (505) 424-2307. IAIA is a drug and alcohol-free campus. IAIA is not responsible for lost or stolen items, injuries, or accidents that occur during the event.

Photographic Views from the 2023 Fall Powwow

Photographic Selections from Previous Powwows