JACKSON, WY — On September 21, American Indian tribal members from varying tribes will gather in Teton County for a celebration of American Indian culture and history.

Central Wyoming College’s United Tribe Club invites the public to CWC’s first Teton County Powwow. It’s an afternoon of dancing, crafts, food, and education to honor American Indian culture, and it’s free to the public.

“A powwow is a social gathering of tribal members as well as a competition of dance and music, but is also an increasingly valuable expression of identity,” said CWC Jackson Director Susan Durfee.

Tribal members from various tribes come together to compete in various dance forms where each will perform a dance, and each dance is partnered with traditional, corresponding regalia. From headdresses to shawls, the attire is as expressive as the movement and associated with a particular dance form. At the end of the day, a panel of judges organized by a Master of Ceremony will vote on 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.

Jackson sits a little more than two hours from the fifth-largest American Indian reservation in the country.

“Thanks to help from the Town of Jackson and CWC’s Jackson campus, American Indians from neighboring communities and from right here in Jackson will proudly display their heritage at the Teton County Fairgrounds,” Durfee said.

The Teton PowWow is free to the public and is co-sponsored by the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, the Wyoming Humanities Council and the Town of Jackson. The Wyoming Humanities Council has developed a handout about etiquette at powwows which reminds viewers that this is a tradition that honors a rich heritage by bringing together many different tribes and communities to celebrate their culture through dance, song and socializing. Download and learn before you go.

The entrance opens at 11 a.m. and the Teton PowWow Grand Entrance begins at noon Sept. 21 in the grassy area at Teton County Fairgrounds. Dancing will continue until 6 p.m.