Meskwaki Annual Powwow The Annual Meskwaki Powwow originated from the traditional religious and social beliefs of the Meskwaki Tribe.
Today, it is not so much a religious event, but more of a social gathering. Specifically, today's event, is derived from the "Green Corn Dance" and other social events of the Tribe in it's early years. The "Green Corn Dance" was an annual event that took place during the harvesting of crops.
21/07/2025
With the possibility of the Powwow grounds flooding or too wet to hold the Meskwaki Annual Powwow, the back-up location is scheduled to be on the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel's grounds (in a grassy area near the outdoor arena). This is a reminder for those with bans at the casino to request a waiver with the Gaming Commission, just in case!
To request a temporary waiver for August 7-10th, 2025, write a letter to: Sac and Fox Gaming Commission, 1504 305th Street, Tama, IA 52339
18/07/2025
17/07/2025
Good morning! Meskwaki Annual Powwow is just weeks away and with the last of the vendor applications being submitted. We will be contacting all applicants if application is accepted or denied. Thank you for being patient with us during this process.
10/07/2025
Join us for the 109th Meskwaki Annual Powwow! Mark your calendars! From Thursday, August 7th to Sunday, August 10th, you're invited to experience the culture, tradition, and community of the Meskwaki Annual Powwow just south of Tama, Iowa.
10/07/2025
The Meskwaki Annual Powwow Association is a proud sponsor of this year’s Cruise with the Blues.
Our Public Safety partners, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department are hosting a Community Night Out to take place on Tuesday, August 5th 2025.
The Cruise will begin at the STC Middle School in Tama, line up begins at 3:30. The cruise will end at the Meskwaki Powwow Grounds right off of E-49 and Battleground Road.
There will be children’s games and activities scheduled for 4:30-6pm at the Meskwaki Powwow Grounds.
Also don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 109th Annual Meskwaki Powwow, held August 7-10 2025.
24/06/2025
A reminder that applications for Meskwaki Tribal community vendors ONLY will be open now through June 30 for this year's Meskwaki Annual Powwow.
On July 1, applications for non-local vendors will open. We are limiting space to 60 vendors. Click link for full details.
All applications must be submitted by July 31, 2025.
Please click the link to complete this form.
10/06/2025
Mark your calendars and get ready to share your moves with the NFL athletes and training staff coming to put on the Chicago Bears youth football camp! Hosted by Meskwaki Youth Development Program and Meskwaki Powwow, the Meskwaki Annual Powwow Association fundraiser will begin at 6 PM at the powwow grounds!
✨ You're Invited! ✨
The Meskwaki Powwow Association,
in collaboration with the Meskwaki Youth Development Program,
proudly presents:
Social Dance Night
📅 Friday, June 20, 2025
🕕 Grand Entry at 6:00 PM
📍 Meskwaki Powwow Grounds
(Battleground Road & Hwy E49, Tama, IA)
✨ Everyone is welcome - dancers, singers, community members, and guests of all ages are welcome!
We hope to see you there!
29/05/2025
We hope to see you there!
✨ You're Invited! ✨
The Meskwaki Powwow Association,
in collaboration with the Meskwaki Youth Development Program,
proudly presents:
Social Dance Night
📅 Friday, June 20, 2025
🕕 Grand Entry at 6:00 PM
📍 Meskwaki Powwow Grounds
(Battleground Road & Hwy E49, Tama, IA)
✨ Everyone is welcome - dancers, singers, community members, and guests of all ages are welcome!
We hope to see you there!
17/10/2024
We hope you enjoy the Meskwaki Nation Times 108th Annual Meskwaki Powwow edition of the newsletter!
Thank you KCCI and Kayla James KCCI for coming out to the 108th Meskwaki Annual Powwow. We were honored to of had you as one of our many esteemed guests this year. Thank you again for taking the time to come share our story with the people.
“Family. You know, family is the main reason why, as a tribe, we get together here,” said Lana Roberts, a tribal vendor whose family is one of several who has had a vendor setup during the powwow for generations.
29/08/2024
* Quick reminder!! *
We are distributing the last of the shares checks to the dancers and singers at the Tribal Offices now until 7:30pm tonight (Aug 29).
If you can not make it, please make arrangements for a family member to responsible to pick it up for you. This will be the last distribution date.
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Origins of the Meskwaki Powwow
The Meskwaki Annual Powwow originated from traditional religious and social beliefs of the Meskwaki Tribe. The modern day Meskwaki Powwow is derived from the Green Corn Dance and other social events of the tribe in its early years. The “Green Corn Dance“ was an annual event that took place during the harvesting of crops, generally in August or occasionally in September if the corn crop matured late.
Gathering together, the tribe’s event was held during harvest where some of the crop would be cooked for the feasting that took place and the rest would be boiled and dried. The dried corn would then be place in sacks and buried in deep pits located in the summer homes of the tribe.
The dancing and feasting that accompanied the harvest normally lasted two to three weeks. At times, it would be interspersed with horse racing, gambling and ball playing (games like Lacrosse, etc.) as well. After all the festivities were done, the families would scatter and go their separate ways, returning to their winter hunting grounds.
Each spring, the tribe would return to the village to repair their summer homes, (known as wickiups) and plant new crops. The tribe, living in one village during summer months, would plant and harvest from one large field with each family planting and harvesting from their own portion of the field. When August came, the harvest and Green Corn Dance would take place. This was the seasonal way of life for the Meskwaki.
Then in the winter of 1901-1902, a smallpox epidemic broke out through the village and took the lives of about 45 people. That spring, the federal government stepped in and burned the Meskwaki village to the ground; building more permanent structures in their place. Because the government built the houses scattered throughout the Settlement and not confined to a single area, each family began planting and harvesting near their homes and in their own time frames instead of in one common area.
This new living situation eliminated the need for a common harvest, but the tribe still craved times for social gatherings. From 1902-1912, an event that came to be known as “Field Days” began taking the place of the “Green Corn Dance” and was established at the location near the old village site. “Field Days” lasted about a week with dancing, games and horse racing. It was a social gathering without the harvest.
Because of the festive atmosphere and the Meskwaki friendships occurring with the outside world, more and more white visitors began attending “Field Days”. The Meskwaki’s realized the event had the possibility of becoming a major commercial enterprise, so the Chief appointed 15 men who planned the 1913 celebration. These men changed the name of the event to “Powwow” and it has been held in its current location ever since.
Today, the Meskwaki Annual Powwow is the only one of its kind in Iowa. It is a four day event used to celebrate the end of summer. As the color and intrigue of it all has drawn the most attention from the outside world, the Meskwaki Annual Powwow features dancing, singing, handcrafts, food, games and fun. Although dance styles and content have evolved over the years, the Meskwaki still consider the event a time of reaffirmation and hope, of kinship and friendship, and of celebration. They are thankful for the opportunity to share a part of who they are as Meskwaki with you. Most importantly, they hope you walk away with open minds and open hearts to be able to respect and learn from different cultures such as theirs.
"A special thanks to Jonathan Buffalo, Tribal Historian, for his contribution of Meskwaki History."
