Jourdan Bennett-Begaye
ICT
DENVER — Typically the first things we grab before heading out the door are our phones, wallets, and keys. Maybe it’s just the phone and keys with everything becoming digital now.
However, if you’re attending a powwow as a spectator, dancer or vendor, that powwow bag or purse may look a bit different.
Dancers make sure to bring their hair spray, gel, and extra bobby pins. Vendors pack extra snacks. Spectators double check the cash in their wallets.
We are taught to prepare for the unexpected and at powwows that could mean anything. It’s weather and time dependent. You never know who you’d meet too. Wink, wink.
If you’re a powwow veteran like Janalyn Dickson, Diné, you know what to bring.
Dickson has been going to powwows for years as a spectator since her childhood in Oklahoma City. She now lives in Albuquerque and recently attended the Denver March Powwow in Denver, Colorado.
Janalyn Dickson, Diné, shows ICT what is in her powwow bag during Denver March Powwow on March 21, 2026. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT, screengrab)
Her top three recommendations for powwow newbies include: a water bottle to stay hydrated, cash “to buy beautiful earrings and delicious food” (not everyone takes debit or credit cards), and medicine to protect yourself. “Never, never come to a space like this without your medicine to keep you going and to protect yourself so always come with your pouch,” she said, while pulling out her medicine pouch from her pocket.
ICT talked to half a dozen powwow goers and two dancers at Denver March Powwow to see what is in their powwow bags.
Here are the common themes from them plus some honorable mentions and a bonus item.
- Snacks and water galore.
Lakota Sage, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, owns Orrs Trading Post in Denver. His powwow bag was his food cooler with stacks of snacks like peanut butter crackers, chips and dip, veggies, and baby food for his baby. His dip is his favorite: everything spread with elotes. “I always have to have peanut butter on hand, that’s for sure. Peanut butter with anything,” he said.
Mary Phillips, Pueblo of Laguna and Umoⁿhoⁿ (Omaha) Tribe of Nebraska, was unloading her powwow bag with leftover breakfast and she was collecting water bottles throughout the day.
- Fan.
For Sadie Hill Kelley, Yewelahawi, who was dancing all Denver March Powwow weekend, showed off her upgraded powwow bag: a blue suitcase with her regalia. She recommends dancers specifically to always have on hand safety pins, bobbi pins, and a fan (electric or manual). Jesselin Lopez, Warm Springs Apache and Lakota, also agreed that the fan is a must. “I gotta keep it cute,” she said.
A majority of summer-time powwows are outside but even indoor gatherings like Denver’s powwow can get warm with a lot of people grouped together.
- Chair
Marie YellowHawk, Navajo, who lives in Denver, said to bring a chair. Not only for yourself but for elders if you’re not using it. Native communities take care of elders and an extra chair for them always helps since some powwows don’t have enough seating.
Marie YellowHawk, Navajo, shows ICT what is in her powwow bag during Denver March Powwow on March 21, 2026. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT, screengrab)
- Extra earrings.
Besides the $5 bill and gum in her new purse, Gabby Gomas, Citizen of Potawatomi Nation, pulled out some green backup earrings. “My backup earrings because these ones are a little bit too big and my ears get tired,” she said laughing while pointing to her big beaded earrings.
Of the top three powwow essentials for everyone, Sage of Orrs Trading Post said an extra pair of earrings. “You gotta switch them out throughout the day because you’re seeing everything over and over,” Sage said. “You want to change it up a little bit.” Noted.
- Phone bank charger.
Three of the six people said phone bank chargers are needed. Outlets are hard to come by or nonexistent.
- Vendor goodies.
If we’re at a powwow, you’ll always find vendor goodies in everyone’s powwow bag. From new books signed by the authors to new earrings, or a Bethany Yellowtail dress. Mostly everyone ICT talked to had bought something during the powwow to show off.
Jesselin Lopez, Warm Springs Apache and Lakota, shows ICT what is in her powwow bag during Denver March Powwow on March 21, 2026. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT, screengrab)
- Keep busy with beadwork.
In between dancing or spectating, Phillips and YellowHawk worked on their beading for family, relatives or drum groups. YellowHawk had beaded two medallions for a couple members of a drum group she wanted to give them.
Lopez had a hat in her powwow bag. “He made me promise that I would bead it. So TBD on when that gets done,” she said.
- Scarf.
Hill Kelley, as a dancer said, it’s for the sweat or to wipe off the grease. Grandma scarves are handy for this one!
- Honorable mentions: plastic ware, over the counter medication, lotion, lipstick
Sometimes when we order food and forget a plastic fork, that one in the powwow bag helps! A couple people had forks.
The other essentials were over-the-counter medication, lotion, and a few shades of lipsticks.
BONUS: Dickson had Play-Doh her powwow bag. No kids, she said but it helps “the sensory needs. I got a little ‘Arthur Yazzie’ going on and it feels really good to help my arthritis.”
The post What’s in your powwow bag? appeared first on ICT.
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