2026 Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow: A Celebration of Native American Culture
The Seminole Tribe of Florida hosted its annual celebration of Native culture and arts this past weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow featured a wildlife presentation, drumming competition and exhibition dancing as well as live music performances, plenty of Native American art and crafts for sale and the ‘Native Reel’ Cinema Festival. Oh, and it’s free. That’s right. One more thing, parking at the Hard Rock Hollywood is also free. Crazy, right? But true.
But what exactly is a pow wow, you ask? I mean, most of us have heard the term before but do we really know what it is and where it originated from? I’m sure some of you do but to those who aren’t quite sure (as I was), I’m here to help remedy that as you scroll through some of my photographs from this truly dynamic three day festival. You’re welcome…
Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow | Grand Entry
Pow Wows are Native American gatherings that include singing, dancing, food, crafts, and are usually held for homecomings, birthdays, annual gatherings, anniversaries or just reconnecting with old friends. The term “pow wow” derives from the Indian word “pau-wau”, which originally stood for a healing ceremony conducted by the spiritual or religious leaders of various tribes.
For centuries, American Indian communities have conducted ceremonial gatherings. Modern pow wows, however, derive from more recent ceremonies that began in the Plains area – a vast area of land located between the Rocky Mountains to the west and the Mississippi River to the east, and stretched from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba southward through the central United States to Texas and the Rio Grande.
In the late nineteenth century, the U.S. government seized swaths of land from Plains Indians, including tribes like the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Comanche, and forced them onto government-mandated reservations to clear land for westward expansion. By 1900 the days of the Plains Indians were over. Confined tribes faced starvation, loss of sovereignty, banned traditions, and the separation of children into boarding schools.
This new “transition” for Native Americans often put Tribes at odds with other Tribes they did not know – even Tribes that were bitter enemies found themselves very close neighbors. A compromise and compilation of traditions had to take place in order for the people to survive. During this period of forced migration, many Indian tribes formed intertribal alliances that allowed tribe-specific songs, dances, and ceremonies to be exchanged.
Two intertribal traditions emerged during this period: the Drum Religion and the Grass Dance (a ceremonial dance originating from the flattening of high grass for new encampments). The Drum Religion was a sacred drum ritual that fostered peace and friendship, while the Grass Dance was an adapted form of ancient warrior dances. Both emphasized the value of generosity and gift-exchange.
As various Indian tribes gathered together, they would share their songs, often changing the songs so singers of different tribes could join. With these changes came the use of “vocables” (non-lexical, rhythmic syllables used to facilitate inter-tribal singing to replace the words of the old songs). Thus, some songs today are sung in “vocables” with no words, depending on the ceremony.
In the 20th century, pow wows evolved further, especially after World Wars I and II, as they became places to honor Native veterans and preserve warrior traditions. During the 1950s, urban relocation programs lead to the spread of pow wow culture beyond reservations, leading to the formation of new intertribal communities and year-round pow wow circuits.
The pow wow begins with the Grand Entry, when all the participants enter the arena. This originally was a parade through the host pow wow town. During the Grand Entry, guests are asked to stand as the flags are brought into the arena. The flags carried generally include the U.S. Flag, Tribal Flags, the POW Flag, and Eagle Staffs of various tribes present. These are usually carried by veterans.
Following the veterans are other important guests of the pow wow including Tribal Chiefs, Princesses, Elders, and pow wow organizers. Next in line are the male dancers. The men are followed by the women dancers and they all join in a circular dance around the arena floor (in this case, the Hard Rock’s Grand Ballroom) followed by intertribal dancing accompanied by Native drums (called the “heartbeat of Mother Earth”) and singers. Here’s a listen…
Pow wow regalia is a powerful mode of self-expression that blends historical and modern dress. A dancer’s pow wow outfit is a collection of items that reflect their lives, interests, and family background and often includes handmade, heirloom, or sacred items. These ensembles evolve over time, reflecting changes in the dancer’s life and in the fashion of the time.
Dances have always been a very important part of the life of the American Indian. Most dances seen at Pow Wows today are social dances which might have had different meanings in earlier days. Moreover, the diversity of pow wow dances reflects the evolution of the tradition. Today, there are dances for elders, men, women, teenagers, and children. Moreover, the diversity of pow wow dances reflects the evolution of the tradition. Today, there are dances for elders, men, women, teenagers, and children.
Pow wows take place across the U.S. and internationally, continuing to honor Native identity through dance, regalia, music, and community celebration. For me, it was a truly remarkable experience to have been present at this event – not just as a photographer but as a human being. Native Americans may have had most of their land taken from them but their pride and spirit remain intact, and it was on full display at the Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow.
Special thanks to Derek Koger, Executive Director of Tribal Community Development for the Seminole Tribe, who I initially contacted for a media pass. He connected me with the Tribe’s Executive Director of Operations, Tina Osceola, who connected me with Carrie Dilley, Marketing and Advertising Coordinator for the Tribe, who added me to the media list. Derek and I know each other from being members of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, who I’ve had the pleasure of being of service to for several years now. It’s who you know, yes? And being a member of the Alliance connects you with some very good people.
Here’s a gallery featuring the best of the best photographs from Day 1 of the Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow…
For more information on the Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow, visit their website at 