Yes, you are welcome at a powwow, and the Black Hills Powwow in Rapid City, South Dakota is one of the best places to experience your first one.
This past October, over the weekend that included Indigenous Peoples Day, I attended my very first powwow: He Sapa Wacipi Na Oskate, better known as the Black Hills Powwow. Travel South Dakota calls it the biggest powwow in the United States, drawing dancers, singers, artists and spectators from across North America.
If you’ve ever wanted to attend a powwow but felt unsure, here’s what I learned, including the etiquette every visitor and family should know before they go.