JACKSON, Wyo. — This spring, Central Wyoming College and the Wyoming Humanities Council will offer a lecture series “Tribal Talks: Breaking Boundaries,” and the annual “Teton Powwow: A Celebration of American Indian Culture” will once again return to Jackson.

Tribal Talks: Breaking Boundaries

This lecture series will take place on Thursdays, March 2, March 23, and May 4 at 6 p.m. in the Teton County Library Auditorium.

These talks are designed to encourage dialogue and engagement between the Teton County community and tribal communities with insight into the historical and contemporary issues of tribal people. The three presentations are free to the public and begin at 6 p.m.  Presentations are about 30 minutes and are followed by questions and dialogue with the audience. 

Thursday, March 2, 6 p.m.

“Carrying Indigenous Wisdom into the Future,” presented by Central Wyoming College’s Tribal Education Coordinator Ivan Posey and CWC’s Tribal Wisdom Society.

Thursday, March 23, 6 p.m.

“Reintroduction of Bison: Traditional and Contemporary Values” by Jason Baldes and Shane Doyle

Thursday, May 4, 6 p.m.

Jacki Klancher, Central Wyoming College’s Professor of Environmental Science and Health and Director of Instruction and Research at the Alpine Science Institute and CWC students Aidan Hereford and Antoine Day present “New Voices: from Everest Base Camp to the Continental Divide.”

In May 2022, Klancher hiked with five Central Wyoming College students to Everest Base Camp to conduct scientific research. The CWC student team was comprised of four Indigenous students: Jada Antelope, Aidan Darissa Hereford, Red Thunder Spoonhunter, Antoine Day, and one non-Indigenous first-generation student Ryan Towne. 

With support from Wyoming EPSCOR, Rocky Mountain Alliance for Minority Participation and the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium, this team paired with MeteoTracker technology manufacturers to test portable climate sensors. In Spring 2022, in partnership with the Full Circle Everest Expedition and local Nepalese guides, a small team traveled to Everest Base Camp to assess the use of these sensors for high-elevation data collection. This talk will describe the rationale behind this effort and how it relates to alpine conditions in Wyoming and will provide students with the opportunity to describe some of their adventures.

These talks are generously supported by the Central Wyoming College, Wyoming Humanities Council, Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund and the Teton County Library. What: Central Wyoming College and Wyoming Humanities Council host “Tribal Talks: Breaking Boundaries”

These talks are free and open to the public.

Teton Powwow: Celebration of American Indian Cultures

Central Wyoming College and Native American Jump Start present “Teton Powwow: Celebration of American Indian Cultures,” on Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20 at Center for the Arts & Snow King Events Center.

Jackson Hole and the surrounding region are ancestral lands for Indigenous Peoples and are valued for their rich natural and scenic resources. Indigenous knowledge keepers will share their rich culture, traditions, dance and history at the Annual Teton Powwow.

On Friday, May 19, free educational presentations around American Indian culture will be offered at the Center for the Arts throughout the day. The Native American Showcase at 7 p.m. will preview dance traditions that will be presented on Saturday at the 3rd Annual Teton Powwow at the Snow King Events Center. 

Saturday, May 20, will mark a full-day celebration of American Indian cultures that will feature dancers representing many tribes throughout the West who will compete in many traditional and contemporary dance forms. Central Wyoming College’s Tribal Wisdom Society students and Native American Jump Start will collaborate to manage the powwow and educational programs.  The Teton Powwow is free and open to the public. 

During the Powwow, there will be arts and crafts booths including Wind River Reservation representatives who will share information on food sovereignty and natural resources. American Indian food vendors will offer a variety of delectable food options. The Grounds Blessing begins at 10 a.m. and the colorful Grand Entry begins at 12 p.m. with an all-ages Powwow dance competition in categories including Mens/Teens/Boys Traditional Dance, Chicken Dance, Fancy Dance, Jingle Dance and Grass Dance, Womens/Teens/Girls Traditional Dress, Buckskin Dress, Jingle Dress and Fancy Shawl.

Event Details are as follows:

  • Where: Center for the Arts, 240 S Glenwood St, Jackson, WY
  • When: Friday, May 19, 2023, throughout the day and an evening presentation from 7-8:30 p.m.
  • Cost: Day events free; Evening $10. Tickets: Center for the Arts Box Office

These events are sponsored by the Wyoming Humanities Council, Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism,  the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund and the Center for the Arts.