Sycuan Pow-Wow

The Sycuan Pow-Wow is a time for people to get together, sing, dance, renew old friendships and make new ones, and a time for young people to meet and court.

Located in El Cajon, California the Sycuan Powwow has been going on for over 30 years usually in the second week in September. Sycuan has been California's premier powwow during the the west coast swing. Sycuan features singing and dancing from all over Indian Country, we also provide our very own prideful song and dance known as Bird singing and dancing. This years event will be September 9, 10 & 11th 2022 we invite you to come enjoy yourself at the 33rd Sycuan Powwow !

What is a Pow-Wow? Originally a Pow-Wow or "celebration" as it was once called, was held in the spring to welcome the beginnings of life. It was a time for people to get together, sing, dance, renew old friendships and make new ones, and a time for young people to meet and court.

The Pow-Wow had religious significance as well; it was a time for families to hold naming and honoring ceremonies. The celebration was also a prayer to the one called Wakan Tanka - the Great Mystery or Great Spirit in Lakota. Some trace the word "Pow-Wow" to the Algonquin language and say that the Europeans adopted it to refer to a council or meeting.

The circle is an important symbol to Indian cultures. At a Pow-Wow, the dancers are in the center of the circle and the audience forms a larger circle around them. The Pow-Wow brings the circle of the people closer together to their community and their culture. Pow-Wows today are still very much apart of the lives of modern Indian people.

Most religious ceremonies are no longer a central part of the Pow-Wow and often are conducted in the privacy of a family gathering. However, blessing ceremonies, honoring ceremonies and ceremonies for dropped eagle feathers remain today. Competitive singing and dancing for prize money is a fairly recent change in the traditional Pow-Wow celebration. Only registered contestants can participate in the dancing contests, but everyone can take part when an "intertribal" dance is announced - visitors included, as each of us shares a place in the circle. There are no spectators at a Pow-Wow, everyone is a participant!

Visit: Sycuan Pow Wow