We recently had the chance to visit the Grand Ronde Pow Wow in Oregon, a trip that marked our first time in this beautiful state.
We were there to stream the pow wow live, and the experience left us impressed with the event, the community, and the region itself. This is a Pow Wow that needs to be on your list to visit!
From the moment we arrived, the warm hospitality from the staff set the tone for our visit. The event was hosted at the Spirit Mountain Casino and Resort, which provided top-notch food and comfortable accommodations, making it easy to focus on the pow wow and enjoy the surroundings.
The Grand Ronde area is stunning, with lush greenery and scenic views, adding to the overall atmosphere.
The dance area was highlighted by an impressive arbor, offering a beautiful setting for the dancers and ceremonies. I hope more Pow Wows will be arbors like this! Wish we had this type of shade for the dancers down here in the South!
With plenty of room for camping, it’s clear that this pow wow is designed with families in mind. It’s a great place for those looking to enjoy a multi-day event in comfort.
There is even a disc golf course on the grounds – have to bring my discs for the next visit!
One standout feature was the sheer number of food vendors. We’ve attended many of the biggest pow wows, and this one had more food options than most we’ve seen before.
Whether you were craving frybread or more adventurous offerings, there was something for everyone.
The Pow Wow is really well run too! I have to give a big shout-out to the staff. Anthony Quenelle is one of the organizers. His passion for this event was evident. He was constantly working helping setup, on the mic as an MC, running the arena as an Arena Director, and more. The tribe also sent some of their IT department to the event to manage the sound.
Saturday evening's dancing was canceled because of a storm that blew in. On Sunday, even being way behind, the committee was able to get all the categories their songs, take care of all the specials, and announce winners without feeling rushed – and without going into the late night.
To help save time, the announced winners in between categories on Sunday – loved that and hope more Pow Wows will follow.
It was also fantastic to meet new people and see the excitement about PowWows.com being there. Thanks to everyone who came up and spoke to us, love getting to meet the community of PowWows.com.
A bit of background: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde host this annual event. The tribe’s history is rooted in a blend of more than 30 Native tribes and bands, united by the U.S. government in the 1850s.
Today, the Grand Ronde community is dedicated to preserving their culture and sharing it with the wider world, and the annual pow wow is one of their key celebrations. It’s a mix of honoring the past, embracing the present, and looking toward the future.
This event is truly one to add to your pow wow list if you’re in the area—or even if you need to travel a bit to get there. The combination of a well-organized event, welcoming atmosphere, and plenty of amenities makes the Grand Ronde Pow Wow a must-visit. We’re already looking forward to our next trip back!
