2026 Explore Native Giveaway – Native American Heritage Month Challenge

Explore Native culture every day for 61 days, and win Native-designed prizes from Eighth Generation. It’s our biggest giveaway of the year, and it’s free.

• FreeNo purchase needed
• $280Grand prize blanket
• Dec 31Last day to enter
• U.S. 18+Who can enter

How the Challenge Works

Every November I hear the same question: “How can I learn more about Native culture and celebrate Heritage Month the right way?” This challenge is my answer. From November 1 through December 31, 2026, you’ll get a short daily email that sends you somewhere new on PowWows.com: the true history of Thanksgiving, the story behind the jingle dress, a fry bread recipe, a craft tutorial and much more.

1. Fill out the entry form. That’s your first entry, and it signs you up for the daily emails.
2. Do the bonus actions on the form. Visit pages, follow us and answer a few quick questions for more entries.
3. Read your daily email. Each one points you to an article on PowWows.com.
4. Find the hidden bonus code inside that article.
5. Come back here and enter it. Every code is extra chances to win.

Bonus Code Rules

This is my favorite part. The codes are hidden in the articles, not the emails, so you’ll have to do a little exploring. That’s the whole point!

• Missed a day? No problem. Codes stay in the articles until December 31, so you can always catch up.
• Freebie days. Now and then I’ll put a code right in the email. Watch for subject lines that mention bonus codes.
• Other places to look: our social media, our live streams and the Pow Wow Life podcast.
• Each code works once per person.

Instant Win: Spin to Win

Watch for surprise Spin to Win games during the challenge, including our Black Friday Spin to Win. They pop up with little warning and you can win on the spot. Follow us on social media and watch your inbox.

This Year’s Prizes

Every prize comes from Eighth Generation, and every one is designed by a Native artist. These aren’t “Native-inspired” knockoffs. They’re the real thing.

The Stories Behind the Prizes

Faith Wool Blanket by Bethany Yellowtail

Bethany Yellowtail (Northern Cheyenne and Crow) is a fashion designer whose work celebrates her roots. The Faith design comes from her Apsáalooke (Crow) name, Ammaakeealaachelibaachiilakaacheesh, which means “Overcomes through Faith.” Crow elder David Yarlott Sr. gave her that name as a child, with the wish that she be guided, protected and connected to prayer.

The soft pinks, blues and greens reflect the Apsáalooke homelands where Bethany grew up. The blanket is meant to offer love and protection, and to remind you to keep faith during hard times.

100% New Zealand wool pile with microsuede edge · Two-sided · About 59″ x 78″ (covers the top of a queen bed) · See it at Eighth Generation →

Camas Bloom Throw by Taylor Cameron

Snoqualmie artist Taylor Cameron designed this throw around the camas plant, a sacred, ceremonial food for many Pacific Northwest peoples. The center shows four camas bulbs blooming into purple flowers, surrounded by sage green leaves.

For Salish tribes, camas is a symbol of balance with the natural world. Communities have harvested it carefully for generations so it keeps growing for those who come next. Taylor says learning the traditional ways of harvesting, replanting and caring for camas has been meaningful to her.

100% cotton jacquard · Lilac, sage blue, soft brown and ivory · 60″ x 50″, fringed · Machine washable · See it at Eighth Generation →

After the Rain Notebook by Michelle Lowden

Michelle Lowden lives and works at the Pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico. This design draws on the kilts worn during traditional Pueblo dances, performed in prayer for summer rains so newly planted seeds can sprout. On the cover, a thunderbolt pattern sends rain over the flowers below. “The designs on this notebook reflect the importance of rain to us,” Michelle says.

Hard cover, spiral bound · 100 wide-ruled sheets · 8.75″ x 11.5″ · See it at Eighth Generation →

Blue Huckleberry Pin by Stirling MacArthur

This sparkling deep blue pin celebrates the wild huckleberries of the Pacific Northwest. For generations, the Snoqualmie people have used huckleberries as a natural dye, in jams and as a sweet treat. Stirling calls them “the best that the berry world has to offer.” It’s part of Eighth Generation’s Souvenirs of Summer collection.

Enamel pin · See it at Eighth Generation →

Coast Salish Pattern Pen by Louie Gong

Eighth Generation founder Louie Gong (Nooksack) designed this pattern after studying traditional Coast Salish weaving, and made sure it could actually be woven using traditional methods, a nod to the weavers who came before.

Refillable black ink rollerball · Gold metallic accents · Gift box · See it at Eighth Generation →

Prize Unboxing Video

About Our Sponsor: Eighth Generation

Eighth Generation is a Seattle-based art and lifestyle company owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe. Founded by artist Louie Gong (Nooksack), it was the first Native-owned company to produce wool blankets. Today it sells blankets, scarves, jewelry, art and gifts designed by Native artists from across North America, online and at its flagship store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Their motto says it best: “Inspired Natives™, not Native-inspired.”

Walk into almost any big store and you’ll find “Native-inspired” blankets and decor. Very little of it is designed or made by Native people, and the artists whose cultures inspired it usually see nothing from the sale. Through their Inspired Natives® Project, Eighth Generation partners with Native artists, pays them fairly and puts their names and stories front and center. It’s one of the best ways I know to celebrate Heritage Month, and it makes for great holiday gifts too.

What You’ll Explore During the Challenge

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming in the daily emails. Want a head start? These are great places to begin, and you never know where a bonus code might be hiding.

Native History You Weren’t Taught in School

Most of us learned a few names, a few dates and the Thanksgiving story, and not much else. Start with 5 Native American history facts that will change how you see this country, then read 10 of the most important dates in Native American history.

Your First Pow Wow

Never been to a pow wow? You’re in for a treat. Our Pow Wow 101 FAQ answers every first-timer question. Then read up on pow wow etiquette and what to bring, and find a pow wow near you.

Dances, Music and Regalia

Every dance has a story. Learn about the jingle dress dance, the chicken dance and the round dance. Then turn up the volume with Native American flutes and drums.

Native Food

Get cooking with our 25 favorite Native American recipes, learn the story behind fry bread, and find Native-owned restaurants across North America.

Ancestry and Identity

“My grandmother always said we had Native blood.” I hear this every day! Start with Am I Native American? How to find your Indian ancestors, then learn the difference between DNA results, tribal enrollment and a CDIB card.

Crafts and Art

Make a dream catcher, a beaded rosette medallion or your own hand drum, and learn the rich history of Native beadwork.

People You Should Know

Meet 20 Native American women you should know and 10 Native comedians who will make you laugh. And find out 10 things Native Americans wish everyone else knew.

More Ways to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

• Learn whose land you live on. Start with the biggest tribe in every state.
• Read a Native author. Join our Native American Book Club.
• Buy Native-made. Shop Eighth Generation and our favorite places to shop for Native products.
• Visit a Native museum. Here are 10 of the best in the U.S.
• Go to a pow wow. Most are open to the public. Find one on our calendar.
• Watch one live. We stream pow wows from across North America at powwows.com/live.
• Teach the kids. Our lesson plans and activities work at home or in class.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter?

Residents of the United States who are 18 or older.

Does it cost anything?

No. Entering is completely free, and no purchase is necessary.

How many times can I enter?

You fill out the form once, then earn extra entries through the bonus actions on the form and the hidden bonus codes. Each code can be used once.

Where do I find the bonus codes?

Mostly inside articles on PowWows.com. Your daily email points you to the right one. Some show up on social media, our live streams and the Pow Wow Life podcast, and once in a while I’ll put one right in the email.

I missed a few days. Can I still find those codes?

Yes. Codes stay in the articles until the challenge ends December 31.

I’m not getting the daily emails. What should I do?

Check your spam, junk or promotions folder, and add newsletter@powwows.com to your contacts. Still nothing? Reach out and I’ll help.

Do I have to be Native to enter?

Not at all. The challenge is for everyone who wants to learn more about Native culture.

How are winners chosen and notified?

At random from all eligible entries after the challenge closes on December 31, 2026. The more entries you have, the better your chances. I’ll email winners in early January 2027 and announce them on this page. Winners have a set amount of time to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Keep Exploring After the Challenge

• Pow wow updates for your state: an email when pow wows are happening near you.
• This Week in Native History: a free 5-day email series, one true story a day.
• This Week in Native History weekly: one email a week on the events and people that shaped Indian Country. $5 a month.
• Trace your Native ancestry: a free step-by-step email guide.
• The Circle: our free online community.
• The Pow Wow Guide: everything about pow wows in one place, digital or print.
• Pow Wow Calendar eBook: 12 months of pow wows by month and state.
• The PowWows.com shop: hoodies, tees, the Pow Wow Puzzle Book and more.

Thank you for exploring with us, and good luck! I can’t wait to see how many bonus codes you find.

Paul G
PowWows.com