This year's Pow Wow of Love is the first that NAISO has hosted in person since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme for the event was “reconnecting and re-engaging with culture."

“This is usually one of the biggest student-run events on campus every year,” advertising chair and social work senior Roxy Sprowl said. “Back in 2020 that Pow Wow got canceled, so this is the first year we’ve had it in person (since). Usually it’s competitive, but this year we decided to make it traditional to bring the community back together and get people on the dance floor.” 

Attendees connected to this theme of togetherness and engagement, after not experiencing this tradition for three years. 

“My favorite part, as an Indigenous student, is seeing so many indigenous people all together," arts and humanities junior Jo Troxell said. "You usually don’t get that here as a Native student, so it’s nice to just see everyone together with their culture all day.”

The Pow Wow also showcased and shared Indigenous culture through art being sold at the event. One of the vendors was Jillian Waterman, owner of Thrive Apparel, an Indigenous owned and operated streetwear brand. She displayed her merchandise for sale in a tent at the event.

Waterman explained how she repurposes different materials to create her clothing. 

“I took a picture of the quill work and then I take it to the computer and make patterns and those patterns turn into these outfits (sold),” Waterman said. “You can take anything and turn it into something else … I have this birch bark bustier and it’s all birch bark and quill work.”

The Pow Wow showcased indigenous cultural heritage through dance, song and art. The event served its purpose in bringing people back together to celebrate love and community.

MSU hosts the Pow Wow of Love with hopes of "breaking stereotypes and building community," as well as allowing elders to teach their traditions to the community's youth.