September 19th - 25th
Join in the celebration of the Indigenous cultures of our region with week long programming opportunities leading up to the 43rd Annual COTRAIC Powow on September 24 and 25. In addition to the mini Pow Wow at Schenley Plaza on September 21, there will be an Indigenous exhibit in the Pitt Global Hub throughout the week highlighting the Indigenous history and knowledge, as well a display at Hillman Library which will include books, multimedia, and special archives related to Indigenous narratives and culture.
Schedule of Events
COTRAIC's 43rd Annual Pow Wow
Come and enjoy a glimpse of Native American heritage, competitive dancing, Native American cuisine and arts and crafts at this family-friendly event.
Pow Wows are social events—a good time to see old friends or make new ones. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and engage in conversation with vendors, dancers, singers and other Pow Wow participants.
University of Pittsburgh will provide free transportation for students from campus to the 43rd Annual Pow Wow.
The bus will depart from the Oaklander Hotel at 11 am and 11:30 am on Saturday September 24th. Buses will then make a loop, departing again every hour.
If you are planning to take the bus, please complete this registration form to secure your seat. (And bring your Pitt ID the day of the Pow Wow.)
Object Lesson: Inuit Sculpture
The University Art Gallery kicks off a new series with an in-depth look at the Inuit sculptures in our collection. We will learn about the history of these objects and discuss the issues around the ownership and display of indigenous art work in museum collection.
September 20, 12:15-1pm
University Art Gallery, Frick Fine Arts Building
Register for Object Lesson (registration is capped at 25 attendees)
Pitt and COTRAIC Mini Pow Wow
Pow Wows are a sacred social gathering held by many North American Indigenous communities to honor their cultures through song and dance. Join this public COTRAIC Pow Wow to celebrate the Indigenous peoples of our region and learn about Pow Wow etiquette!
Starting at 10am with opening remarks from Mark Tayac, the 29th Generation Chief of the Piscataway Indian Nation, followed by the traditional Grand Entry dance. Then experience Intertribal and social dancing until 1pm. The afternoon session begins with a vibrant march from the Carnegie Museum to Schenley Plaza where the Intertribal and social dancing continues until 6pm when closing remarks are made by tribal elders.
Schenley Plaza
September 21, 10am - 6pm
Call for Tabling at the Pitt Mini Pow Wow
The event will include intertribal social dancing and drumming with several opportunities for learning about the cultural significance of pow wows to indigenous people and communities. The event will also include vendors selling indigenous goods and groups providing information about the indigenous community in the SW Pennsylvania. We invite University of Pittsburgh schools/departments/offices/groups to host tables at the Pow Wow. This may include information about your schools/departments/offices/groups. We are especially interested in tables highlight indigenous connections to teaching/research/activities at your schools/departments/offices/groups at Pitt. We will provide a table overhead coverings for all interested Schools/Departments/Offices/Groups. Your organization will be responsible for any flyers, pamphlets, posters, or other materials for tabling. If you are interested in tabling during the event please fill out the form.
Mini Pow Wow schedule
10am - Opening remarks
10:30am - Grand entry and opening dance
10:45am - Intertribal and social dancing
1pm - Lunch break
2pm - March to Schenley Plaza
2:45pm - Intertribal and social dancing
6pm - Closing remarks
Turning Points 4: Carving Space for Indigenous Museum Practices (Online Conversation)
Featuring Michelle LaVallee, Director of Indigenous Ways and Decolonization, National Gallery of Canada and heather ahtone, PhD, Director of Curatorial Affairs, First Americans Museum, this Turning Points will focus on Indigenous frameworks for re/building museums. Their conversation coincides with the launch of the University of Pittsburgh’s official land acknowledgement and is moderated by HA&A alumna Annika Johnson, PhD, Associate Curator of Native American Art, Joslyn Art Museum.
September 22, 4pm-6pm
COTRAIC's 43rd Annual Pow Wow
Come and enjoy a glimpse of Native American heritage, competitive dancing, Native American cuisine and arts and crafts at this family-friendly event.
Pow Wows are social events—a good time to see old friends or make new ones. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and engage in conversation with vendors, dancers, singers and other Pow Wow participants.
University of Pittsburgh will provide free transportation for students from campus to the 43rd Annual Pow Wow.
Global Hub Exhibit
An exhibit at Pitt’s Global Hub throughout the week highlighting Indigenous history and knowledge.
Sept 19 - Sept 23
Posvar Hall
Hilman Library Exhibit
A display on the ground floor of the Hillman Library which includes books, multimedia resources, and special archives related to Indigenous narratives and culture.
Sept 19 - Sept 23
Hilman Library, Ground Floor
A bit about pow wows:
A pow wow is a form a celebration. A time that people can come together and talk and laugh and share our dancing and singing. There are Native American pow wows across the country and even in other parts of the world. If you would like to learn more about the pow wows here some helpful links:
- COTRAIC Annual Powwow Website
- A national site that tracks and educates people about pow wows
- YouTube channel on pow wows
- An article about pow wows that includes information on meaning, origins, and dancing
- An article about pow wow etiquette
- Pow wow FAQs
When using pow wow to refer generally to a social get-together or to a meeting for discussion it is considered to be an offensive appropriation of a term of great cultural importance to Indigenous Americans. Here is an excellent piece explaining how the term pow wow and other phrases are offensive.