Annual Friendship Powwow and Free Day at Denver Art Museum: The Perfect Combo for Preschool Families

Dancing, singing, community-building, making crafts, celebrating, and a free day for everyone at the Denver Art Museum (DAM)–what could make for a better Saturday with your preschooler? DAM is hosting its 36th Annual Friendship Powwow on Saturday, September 6th, from 10 am-5 pm. Denver Preschool Program (DPP) is a long-time partner of DAM’s, having provided a celebrity book reading at DAM’s Día del Niño Celebration since 2011. We are excited to be a welcomed addition to the Friendship Powwow this year!

“For preschoolers who might not be as excited about art on walls, the Annual Powwow has lots going on and offers many different ways families can engage with DAM and our partners,” said Jennie Trujillo, the Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellow of Indigenous Arts of North America at DAM. “It’s a more exciting day than usual.” 

How to Talk About Powwow With Preschoolers

A powwow is a Native American tradition that unites diverse tribes and communities through dance, song, food, and socializing. The cultural celebrations originated centuries ago. The term powwow became more popular during the 19th century when Indigenous tribes in the Plains started gathering together more during migration. Today, powwows take place regularly and often include members of many diverse Indigenous tribes with people of all backgrounds welcomed to observe, and, when appropriate, join in with dancing and celebration. 

Looking for a way to talk about powwows and Native American heritage with your little one? Check out these resources:

• The National Education Association (NEA) offers insights by using the book Powwow Day by Traci Sorell to teach about Indigenous cultures and traditions (although created more for elementary-aged children, they offer great tips for teaching preschoolers, too). 
• Powwows.com has student and teacher resources, lesson plans, and a searchable calendar to find a powwow near you!  
• The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage provides a historical perspective of powwows and American Indian traditions. 
• While Native American Heritage Month is in November, Brightwheel’s collection of resources for preschool teachers can be used any time of the year. 

DAM’s Annual Friendship Powwow Activities for Preschoolers

DAM is home to one of the largest collections of Indigenous arts from North America, featuring more than 18,000 pieces from more than 250 Indigenous nations. To make a more focused commitment to Indigenous arts, DAM’s curators established the Annual Friendship Powwow 36 years ago. This year’s event features a traditional powwow with dances, food, vendors, and community partners like DPP, who will be offering resources for community members. 

For families with preschool children, the day features: 

• Ceramics Art-Making Activity with DAM’s Artist in Residence Robert King in the Creative Hub 11 am-4 pm (the activity can be adapted to all ages!) 
• Grand Entry of the Dancers at 11 a.m.
• Tiny Tots dancers compete at 11:45 a.m. 
• Junior dancers compete at 12 p.m. 
• DPP booth all day long, where we will be sharing information with Denver families about how to save on preschool costs. 

As a fun tidbit, every year, DAM commissions an artist to make a design for the Friendship Powwow’s marketing. This year, they partnered with Erlidawn Roy (who works with Denver Public Schools) to connect DAM with a young student artist to make this year’s design. Check it out below.

“The day is an awesome opportunity for families to connect with each other, experience all the museum has to offer, enjoy a powwow, and learn about amazing resources in the community, like DPP,” said Caitlin O’Beirne, DAM Curatorial Assistant, Native Arts. “We feel lucky to have partners like DPP who are providing such valuable resources for our community.” 

For more information about the event, visit DAM’s 36th Annual Friendship Powwow page. To learn more about upcoming free events in the Denver area where DPP will be onsite to share information about preschool tuition support, check out our events page. 

*Photography courtesy of the Denver Art Museum