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.
I’m not Indigenous, and I’ll be honest. Before I went, I wasn’t sure I was allowed to be there. Would I be welcome? Would I accidentally do something disrespectful?
The answer is right in the powwow’s tagline: “Come Dance with Us.” It’s an open invitation, and after attending, I can tell you it’s sincere.