Amelia Schafer
ICT
The Black Hills Powwow, the premier such event of the Northern Plains, is set to return for a 38th year with a record $200,000 in prize payouts and even more Oceti Sakowin (Lakota, Nakoda and Dakota) culture.
“It’s the year of change, it’s the 150th anniversary of the victory at Greasy Grass,” said Danielle Finn, director of the Miss He Sapa Win pageant at the powwow, adding that the powwow allows the Native community “to really showcase what we traditionally did.”
The event, scheduled for Oct. 9-11 at The Monument in Rapid City, S.D., will feature its first ever buffalo harvest as part of the Miss He Sapa Win pageant. The event is open to the public.
“This is a great opportunity for young women to learn, for the community to learn, and they get to see it in action,” said Finn, who is Hunkpapa Lakota from Standing Rock as well as Ihanktonwan Dakota and Hohe Nakoda.
The butchering will be held at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Lakota Homes Community Center. Meat will be donated to the Rapid City Indigenous community.
The dance competitions will now award the seven contestants in each category. The Champions of the Northern Plains singing contest will expand to award the top ten contestants with a total of $59,000 offered in singing prizes.
A dancer at the 2025 Black Hills Powwow in Rapid City, South Dakota. (Amelia Schafer/ICT)
The powwow has grown immensely in recent years, with a record number of over 1,600 dance competitors in 2025. Spectators and contestants alike come from all over the country and even Canadian provinces.
Last year’s celebration included surprise appearances from rapper Macklemore and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla actress Elaine Miles.
Outside the arena, the powwow will once again offer a fine arts show, the annual He Sapa Win (Miss Black Hills) pageant, a fashion show, wellness symposium and traditional hand games tournament.
Miss He Sapa Win pageant expanding to highlight Oceti Sakowin culture
Each fall, one young Oceti Sakowin woman or two-spirit (gender non-comforming) is chosen to spend the year representing the powwow and the different nations comprising the Seven Council Fires.
“They [powwow royalty] are there to really be an excellent role model,” Finn said. “They’re also meant to be a cultural ambassador, someone who can openly share their culture and their knowledge, and have experience in dancing, history, language. [These contests] are an opportunity for powwows and for tribal nations to uplift an individual who is just a great representation of the people. And that’s exactly why we have Miss He Sapa Win.”
A dancer at the 2025 Black Hills Powwow in Rapid City, South Dakota. (Amelia Schafer/ICT)
Finn served as Miss Indian World 2016-2017, representing the Gathering of Nations powwow, and has directed the Miss He Sapa Win pageant for eight years.
To better represent Oceti Sakowin culture, this year’s pageant is putting an emphasis on cultural knowledge.
“We thought, you know, ‘why not?’” Finn said. “If other tribal nations are showcasing that their women can do these traditional skills, why can’t ours?”
Tribes like the Navajo Nation include traditional butchering practices as part of its royalty contest. In the Navajo Nation’s pageant, contestants have just one hour to precisely demonstrate their sheep butchering skills, an important aspect of Diné culture.
The 2026 Miss He Sapa Win pageant will span three days in 2026, beginning on Thursday, Oct. 8 with a talent portion. Previously, contestants were primarily judged on essay writing, traditional dress/dance and an interview with a panel of judges. This year’s contest will include demonstration of a traditional talent.
“[This] can range from speaking the language in a poem or showcasing your art or bow and arrow [skills] showcase on stage and this will be a theater presentation,” Finn said.
Spectators are encouraged to come and support the talent show and cheer on contestants on Oct. 8.
A dancer at the 2025 Black Hills Powwow in Rapid City, South Dakota. (Amelia Schafer/ICT)
Another new judged activity is the Oct. 9 buffalo harvest. All contestants will participate in the traditional buffalo butchering, judged on their teamwork and communication skills rather than technique.
“It is no easy feat to butcher a buffalo and it’s gonna take a lot of energy, a lot of it is helping each other out,” said Finn, a former Miss Indian World. “This is a great opportunity for young women to learn, for the community to learn and they get to see it in action.”
The competition is open to women and two-spirit individuals of Oceti Sakowin descent ages 18-26. Contestants do not need to be enrolled but must be able to prove ancestry/descendency. Contestants must be currently enrolled in an educational institution such as high school, college, trade school or university.
The 2026-2027 Miss He Sapa Win will be crowned at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 in the Monument Arena right before the annual grand entry category dance-off.
“It’s a big year for us,” Finn said.
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