The University of Utah will host the Threading Our Legacies Pow Wow on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. The event is free and open to the public.
This year's theme, Threading Our Legacies, is inspired by cultural teachings and responsibilities passed down through families and ancestors. The program is planned through a partnership involving Student Affairs, the Center for Native Excellence & Tribal Engagement, and the University of Utah’s Inter-Tribal Student Association.
The event agenda begins with doors opening at 10 a.m., followed by dancer registration which closes at 12:30 p.m. A bag check will be conducted at the doors.
The afternoon session includes a Grand Entry at 12 p.m., featuring Tiny Tots, contest singing and dancing for Golden Age, Juniors, and Teens, as well as a Head Lady Special and an Inter-Tribal Student Association Special. Following a supper break at 4:30 p.m., the evening program resumes with a second Grand Entry at 6 p.m.
Evening activities include contest singing and dancing for adult categories, a Head Man Special, and a Committee Honor Song. The event concludes with the announcement of winners at 9:30 p.m. before the venue closes at 10 p.m.
The Pow Wow will feature several specialized dance categories and competitions. Notable staff members include Master of Ceremonies Bart Powaukee, Arena Director Phillip Manning, and Host Drum Motown Singers. Head dancers for the event are Kayden Denny for the Lady category and Caleb Lameman for the Man category.
Special competitions scheduled include a Hoop Dance Special for the Head Lady, a Chicken Dance Special for the Head Man, and a Mother & Daughter Special hosted by the U of U Inter-Tribal Student Association.
The event's featured artist is Paula TopSky Houtz, a Shoshone-Bannock and Chippewa Cree artist. Her work for this event, titled Threading Our Legacies, reflects ancestral ties to the stars and stories that shape identity through movement, dance, and relationship with Mother Earth.
