Kallie Schultz Board Member | Official Website
Kallie Schultz Board Member | Official Website
Marking its 50th annual event, the American Indians Reaching for Opportunities (AIRO) Powwow will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on May 3. The event is set to take place in Skyward Fieldhouse, located at 2050 Fourth Ave., Stevens Point. General admission is priced at $7, discounted to $5 with a UWSP student ID. Entry is free for elders over 65 and children under 3.
The doors will open at 11 a.m., with grand entries scheduled for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dancers will be organized according to opening protocols during these grand entries. Intertribal dances will be accessible to all, including non-Native attendees, as part of the celebration. A traditional feast is planned for 5 p.m.
This year, the event will also include alumni from the AIRO student organization from the past 50 years. Various speakers will impart wisdom and insights from elders, highlighting the tradition's long-lasting impact. Head dancers will conduct giveaways and AIRO Princess and Brave will host specials focusing on generosity and gratitude.
A diverse array of dance styles will be showcased throughout the day. Supported by the UW-Stevens Point Native American Center, the student-led powwow committee will present exhibition specials open to all, including dances such as “Bells and Boots (if you got them),” the Swan Dance, Two-Step, and Snake Dance. The drums will represent several Nations in the region, complemented by the Menominee Nation Color Guard.
There will be Indigenous arts, crafts, and food vendors on-site, including the popular Native frybread. The event welcomes children and families, offering spaces for crafting and games managed by campus volunteers.
“We are honored to celebrate this incredible milestone with our community. It means a great deal to us that for 50 years, Indigenous students at UWSP have organized and hosted this powwow, often while navigating new environments, being far from home and facing significant challenges. The resilience of our people is visible in this gathering, which continues to stand strong - just like us,” said Native American Center Coordinator Rachel Davis.
For more information on AIRO and the Native American Center at UW-Stevens Point, visit their website.
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