Wambli Sapa Memorial Powwow to Return to UNO's Campus

About the Powwow

A traditional celebration honoring the legacy of a prominent Ponca leader and respected elder will soon bring together Native Americans and non-Natives alike on the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) campus.

After three years of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wambli Sapa Memorial Powwow will once again be held on UNO’s campus for a celebration of the traditions, heritage, and culture of area Native American tribes. The event will be held on Saturday, April 8 from 1 P.M. to 7 P.M. at UNO’s Sapp Fieldhouse. Admission is free and open to the general public.

Add the Powwow to your calendar

Nearly 2,000 visitors are expected to come and go throughout the day. Representatives from area tribes, including the Umoⁿhoⁿ (Omaha) Tribe of Nebraska, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska are expected to attend. The event is hosted by UNO’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Intertribal Student Council.

Under the theme “Remember the Children, Protect Our Village,” the event will feature a traditional grand entry, a welcome message by UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, a song honoring LeRoy with remarks shared by his daughter, Rhonda Free, and cultural dance contests. Drum groups including Youngbucks, Newbreed, Upstream, and Mato Pejuta will perform. Men’s dance categories include grass, northern traditional, and fancy. Women’s dance categories include northern traditional, fancy, jingle, and cloth/applique.

Dustin Lovejoy will serve as Head Man for the Pow Wow, which comes with the responsibility of getting people dancing, celebrating, and socializing. “I feel it's necessary to continue on with this cultural event for the benefit of the indigenous community in the Omaha area,” Lovejoy said. “Because cultural song and dance is a vital component to who we are as indigenous peoples no matter where we reside. Because this pandemic has halted us long enough, it is time to live again through song, dance, and prayer!”

Actor Gary Farmer, who stars in the acclaimed FX television series Reservation Dogs, will serve as emcee for the event. Eduardo Zendejas, J.D., a lecturer in public administration at UNO who has served as a longtime mentor for the Intertribal Student Council, will co-host.

The event will feature 25 community vendors, more than 100 dancers, raffles, food trucks, and concessions. Volunteers from the UNO campus and the community make this event possible alongside students, faculty, and staff of UNO’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Intertribal Student Group.

The annual event honors the legacy of Fred LeRoy, who, through persistence and determination, worked to have the Northern Ponca reinstated as a federally recognized tribe in the late 1980s. Through LeRoy’s efforts, then-president George H.W. Bush signed the Ponca Restoration Act to establish the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska in 1990.

Questions and Additional Information

Questions about the 2023 Wambli Sapa Memorial Powwow? Please contact UNO's Office of Multicultural Affairs at mca@unomaha.edu for assistance.

The 2021 UNO Wambli Sapa Memorial Powwow was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Video and images from the 2021 event are featured below.