The weekend's powwow is a homecoming celebration, Iron Cloud said. Following welcomes from Northern Arapaho leaders, University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman and Boulder Mayor Will Toor, the powwow will really start thumping. Until dark tonight, and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until about 4 p.m., the Norlin Quadrangle will reverberate with the beat of drums and swirl with the movement of brightly clad dancers. The dancers, ranging in age from those barely able to walk to tribal elders, will compete for prizes in many styles of dance. Men compete in traditional, fancy and grass dances.
Women also compete in three styles of dance, but do a jingle dance instead of a grass dance.
Each dance has its own set of movements and requires its own elaborate costume. But money, he said, is not the main reason he dances. While Samuel is following the tradition he grew up with by coming to dance in Boulder's powwow, organizer Caballero is hoping to discover more of her own tradition when the event begins. In the 11 years since, Caballero has tried to learn more about her Arapaho culture. This weekend she will see her first powwow as the Northern Arapaho return to Boulder, a powwow she has worked to bring about and that newly discovered Wyoming relatives will be coming to attend.