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May 18, 2024 – Jackson, Wyoming

The 4^th Annual Teton Powwow presented by Native American Jump Start in partnership with Central Wyoming College Took place at Munger Mountain Elementary School, south of Jackson on May 18^th, 2024.

The inception of the event was to help create cultural awareness for the greater Jackson community towards the Native peoples who called the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem home.  More than 24 tribes called the region home with our closest neighbors from FT Hall ID, The Shoshone-Bannock, the Wind River Reservation with The Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho, The Crow Tribe and Northern Cheyenne from just over the border in Montana and the Lakota from South Dakota.

NAJS and CWC have been partnering to host this event over the past four years and the event has grown annually.   This year, the event was moved outside to Munger Mountain Elementary School just south of Jackson.  More than 350 dancers from across the Western US representing 50 tribes hailing from 13 states and 2 Canadian Provinces.

Following Grand Entry, Native American Jump Start presented the Grand Teton National Park Foundation with a grant of $10,000 to support the Tribal Youth Corp program administered by the National Park Service in Grand Teton National Park.  To learn more about this presentation, click HERE

Thanks to the support of Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board, Wyoming Humanities Council, Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Mountain Modern Hotel and Town Square Inn’s for their support of the event.

Host Drums for the powwow were Mato Pejuta with Lead Singer Redwing Thomas from Santee NB, and Little Brave with lead singer Shilo Bell. Several other drum groups attended the powwow providing traditional powwow singing.  The event’s success, in part is because of the great head staff responsible for the event.   Powwow Coordinator – Hunter Old Elk, Master of Ceremonies – Chico Her Many Horses and Scott Evans, Arena Director – Ace No Braid, Head Judge – Gerimiah Holy Bull, Tabulation Lara No Braid, Head Man Dancer – Joseph Pratt, Head Lady Dancer – April Kaulity, Head Honored Elder Male – John Butler and Head Honored Elder Female – Sandra Plentywounds.

More than $43,000 in prize money was awarded to dancers from across the country.  The highlight of the contest was the Native American Jump Start College Student College Specials – open to all Native College Students who are currently enrolled in a higher education program.  Six – $1,000 prizes were awarded to the top three male and top three female college student dancers.  The winning college students who received funding from Native American Jump Start were: Bridget Black Owl – Cheyenne and Arapaho from Oklahoma, Kayla Dann – Eastern Shoshone and Bannock from Idaho, Lacreda White Buffalo – Kiowa – from Wyoming.  On the men’s side –Miles Medina Yo’eme/Taos Pueblo – From Colorado who is enlisted in the US Air Force and has his tuition paid for, generously rolled his prize down to Trevor Jim – Navajo from –New Mexico, Lee Jack Jr. – Dine’ – From Arizona and Daris – Benally Dakota/Navajo from Montana.  To see winners from all of the contest, see the results listed below.

Join us in 2025 for the 5^th Annual Teton Powwow to be held on May 3rd at the Snow King Event Center.

To see more photos from the event, click here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ssq9nKWc1hdyHMTd/

Contest Winners