New Beginnings Pow Wow

10th Annual New Beginnings Virtual Pow Wow & Blanket Wrapping Ceremony

Pow Wows are the Native American people's way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, and making new friendships. This is a time when dance and music honor the resilient cultural history of Native American peoples and traditions.

The DU Pow Wow has become a campus-wide event with support from the Native Student Alliance and the Office of the Provost.

The University of Denver 10th Annual New Beginnings Pow Wow will be socially distanced this year. We want to celebrate our Native American graduates while also finding ways to be in community, both virtually and in person.

Traditional Native American dress for Pow Wow competition

Follow the Event Facebook Page

To see this year's winners, please follow the University of Denver New Beginnings Social Distance Pow Wow page!

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Blanket Wrapping Ceremony

This year, the Blanket Wrapping Ceremony took place on May 8th, to honor our graduating Native students who have worked hard to fulfill their academic requirements and exceed all expectations!

A blanket ceremony is an Native American tradition symbolizing a milestone in one's life. Rather than simply walking across a stage and accepting a diploma, Indigenous students at the University of Denver chose to participate in this extraordinary cultural experience.

This year's Blanket Wrapping Ceremony represents the achievements of each individual student and the Indigenous community that they represent.

Community Feed

The Native Student Alliance hosted a Community Feed outside the University of Denver Community Commons.

Gifts for participants included:

FREE Pow Wow T-shirt, Tiny Tot gifts (under 6 years of age) and Tocabe meals were available for our local Native Denver community members. We want to thank you for your resilience and for supporting our events! You can still watch the dancers on our University of Denver New Beginnings Social Distance Pow Wow page!