By Patrick Mitsuing | Founder of Powwow Times and the Powwow Dance Championships
Now Imagine This
Now imagine this. Two of the best powwow dancers in the world standing across from each other. Both have won major championships. Both are respected for their craft. Both have spent years perfecting their dancing. Both are so used to winning. But tonight, only one can walk away victorious. And that’s what makes the Powwow Dance Championships different. We’re taking some of the most exciting moments in the powwow world and putting the spotlight directly on our champions. Because my biggest goal has always been simple: Let’s let the world know who our champions are.
I Know Some People Aren’t Going to Agree With This
If you’re part of the powwow world, you might have a few different feelings about what we’re doing. Why are we turning our dancing into something that looks like boxing? Is this really what our culture is about? Why are we putting so much emphasis on competition and prize money? I understand those questions. I’m the person who created this event. I’m putting my name behind it. So if people disagree, I’m going to hear about it. But here’s something I want people to understand: competition isn’t something new that we’re introducing to Indigenous culture.
Our People Have Been Competing for Generations
Competition powwows have been around longer than I’ve been alive. And competition itself goes back much further than modern powwows. I’ve heard stories about our people testing endurance, strength, stamina and abilities. There were challenges and contests, and opportunities to demonstrate skill, courage and determination. Different Nations have different histories and traditions; I’m not saying every community did things the same way. But the idea that Indigenous people only started competing because modern powwows introduced prize money? I don’t believe that’s true. Sometimes there were rewards: horses, gifts, valuable belongings, recognition and honour. Today, we often use money. Money is one way we recognize and reward someone’s effort and accomplishments in our modern economy. And if you’ve attended competition powwows, you already know cash prizes are nothing unusual. We’re not inventing competition. We’re creating another stage for it.
You’ve Already Seen One-on-One Powwow Battles
If you’ve been going to powwows for years, tell me you’ve never seen a tiebreaker. Two dancers have competed all weekend, earned the same number of points and have to come back out to determine the winner. The crowd gets excited. People start talking. And then those dancers bring everything they’ve got: their best footwork, their best moves and their best interpretation of the song. Or think about the specials families host at powwows. Sometimes it comes down to the final two dancers. Sometimes the arena lights go down, the spotlights come on and everybody watches two incredible dancers battle for first place. People remember those moments. So why not create an event that brings those moments together?
We’re Taking the Most Exciting Parts of Powwow and Highlighting Them
The tiebreakers. The specials. The spotlight dances. The incredible drum groups. The best dancers going head-to-head. We’re taking those moments and building an entire championship experience around them. We introduce the dancers, tell their stories, let people know where they’re from, create the matchups and let them dance. It’s presented with the excitement of a major sporting event, but the talent, dancing and music come from our powwow world. We’re not trying to replace traditional powwows or competition powwows. Those gatherings are important and serve purposes much bigger than what we’re doing here. We’re building something alongside them.
Here’s Something Our Powwow World Needs to Hear
This might be uncomfortable, but our powwow industry isn’t nearly as big as we sometimes think it is. Inside this world, we recognize the champions and the big drum groups. We know who’s winning. But outside our world? Most people have no idea who these champions are. Some have never attended a powwow. Through Powwow Times, we’re reaching millions of people with Indigenous cultural content. For many, what we show them might be their very first introduction to powwow dancing. Their very first experience of powwow might be watching one of our champions compete. That’s a huge opportunity.
Why Are We Choosing Established Champions?
I’ve heard people ask why we’re choosing certain dancers instead of someone still working their way up. I understand that. I’ve been that dancer. I’ve gone through periods where I wasn’t winning. I kept practising, improving, investing in my regalia and showing up. Eventually I started winning championships. But when we’re introducing powwow dancing to someone who’s never seen it before, I want to show them some of the best dancers on the planet. To that new viewer, even our most famous champions are completely new. They might be hearing Prairie Rose Jack, Amanda Goodwill, Tristan Carter or Malcolm Murphy for the first time. Imagine their first experience of Jingle Dress Dancing being Prairie Rose Jack and Amanda Goodwill going head-to-head. Or watching Malcolm Murphy and Tristan Carter in Men’s Traditional. Or Ira McNab and Wambdi Clairmont in Men’s Grass Dance. That’s how we introduce the world to our champions. As this grows, I want to create opportunities for more dancers, categories and communities.
And Then There Are the Drums
Imagine all of this happening with world-class powwow singing. Northern Cree. Bullhorn. Two incredible drum groups bringing that energy into the arena. For someone who has never experienced powwow before, just hearing those drums live can be unforgettable. The sound, the power, the way dancers move with the music, the energy of the crowd. It’s almost like combining a championship sporting event with an incredible live concert. Except it’s our own Indigenous talent, champions, music and stories. Man, how amazing is that?
The Stakes Are High for Me Too
This is only the second time we’re doing the Powwow Dance Championships. We’re still building, learning and trying to create something that can grow into a much bigger industry. And we’re investing over $100,000 to make this event happen. That’s serious financial risk and pressure. There’s responsibility to the dancers, drum groups, sponsors and people buying tickets. There’s also pressure in doing something different when people have strong feelings about how things should be done. But I believe in our dancers and drum groups. I believe there’s an audience around the world waiting to discover what we’ve had right in front of us for generations. I want powwow champions to become internationally recognized stars. I want them to build sponsorships, create opportunities for their families, and inspire kids the way NHL, NBA and UFC athletes do.
Will We Actually Pull This Off?
We’re putting together a major production, bringing in incredible dancers and championship drum groups, investing the money and trying to bring an entirely new audience into the powwow world. Will it work? I believe it can. But we’re going to find out. Follow along as we try to build something bigger. Hopefully years from now we’ll look back at these first championships and remember where it all started.
Come Experience Powwow Dance Championships #2
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Red Deer Resort & Casino — Red Deer, Alberta.
Featuring championship head-to-head dance battles and live drumming from Northern Cree and Bullhorn. If you’re part of the powwow world, come cheer for your champions. If you’ve never been to a powwow, this is your invitation. Get your tickets at www.pwtpowwow.com.
Learn More
- Why I Created the Powwow Dance Championships
- Never Been to a Powwow? What to Expect
- Meet the Champions
Patrick Mitsuing is the founder of Powwow Times, creator of the Powwow Dance Championships and a World Champion Men’s Fancy Dancer.
