MISSION — A small powwow grew into a night of celebration and community as family and friends joined hands for a round dance at the Mission Longhouse.
Community members gathered Feb. 11 at the Longhouse for the Culture Night Valentine’s Day Mini Powwow. The evening let attendees celebrate Valentine’s Day, learn the round dance and connect in a space that felt more like home than an event.
The round dance is more than a step in a circle — it is the living heartbeat of the powwow. Open to all, participants moved clockwise, hands clasped, carried by the pulse of drumming and singing. The dance honors tradition while celebrating community, healing and connection. Attendees also added playful owl and rabbit steps to the circle.
Keeyana Mata, Family Engagement specialist for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), said powwows tend to be more social and celebratory, with a competitive element. At the same time, round dances are primarily ceremonial gatherings.
“Today’s round dances blend social and ceremonial elements, but we treat them with a lot of respect,” Mata said.
Round dances also accommodate visiting singers, she added.
“People come from Warm Springs, Yakama and other places,” she said. “Usually, we give each singer four-song sets. Later in the night, when more singers arrive, we split sets into two songs each, so everyone has a chance to perform.”
Most round dances, she noted, continue late into the night, often including a midnight meal and only end once all singers have performed.
Half the Longhouse buzzed with anticipation as dancers joined the circle. The other half became a marketplace of culture and art.
CTUIR member Nizhonia Toledo displayed original artwork reflecting personal and cultural narratives, while Ken Mayfield, a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, presented his pieces with quiet pride. DeArcie Abraham, member of the CTUIR, offered clothing from her brand, Yellowbird Tribe, blending tradition with contemporary design. Ariel Howard, member of the Yakama Nation, showcased ribbon skirts, wing dresses and more.
Before the first drumbeat, musicians Charles Wood, a member of the CTUIR, and Damian Toledo, a member of the Yakama Nation, burned sweetgrass, letting the smoke drift over the sticks and drums as host Fred Hill explained the significance behind the ritual. Each drum, he said, is given life and used to make songs for the people.
“I’m looking forward to getting my kids more acquainted with what our cultures offer and learning from our elders who come here to teach,” Raven Manta, member of the CTUIR, said. “Hopefully, they can show them their ways and what they’re supposed to do in the processes that we follow. These young kids come here to learn.”
The blessing opened the evening, with children standing beside parents and elders as community members watched. When the smoke cleared and the singers took their places, the opening ceremony began. After the ceremony, dancers stepped into the circle, the first drumbeat carrying the night forward.
CTUIR member Derek Quaempts said the program gives children a safe place to play and interact. “It’s an opening song and they get to learn from the mentors we bring in — how to dance, how to sing, and sometimes even cast arts,” he said.
He added that the program is important because it builds on the old Culture Night tradition. “Back then, Culture Night happened every Wednesday as a simple get-together. Now it’s a big program with vendors and everyone can be involved,” Quaempts said.
The night carried forward with music, movement and connection, a reminder that cultural traditions continue to thrive when communities come together.
