Gatesway Foundation is bringing its third annual Disability Awareness Powwow to the NSU Broken Arrow campus this Saturday, November 14, with doors opening at noon and a full day of dancing, drumming and contests stretching into the night. The indoor public event is designed to bring together people of all abilities to celebrate Native American culture while promoting disability awareness, running from noon to 9:30 p.m.
The gathering will be held at NSU Broken Arrow, located at 3100 New Orleans Street, according to calendar.powwows.com. Admission runs $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 12, and is free for kids 3 and younger, as reported by News On 6. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, and the event listing echoes that request, specifically asking attendees to bring their own seating.
A Day Built Around Contests and Traditions
The schedule kicks off with the Gourd Dance at 12:30 p.m., followed by a break at 4:30 p.m. before the evening programming begins. Grand Entry and opening ceremonies are set for 6 p.m., with the calendar listing noting the evening's Grand Entry is scheduled for 6:00 PM. Tiny Tots dancing follows at 6:20 p.m., with junior boys and junior girls contests at 6:35 p.m. and 6:55 p.m., respectively.
From there, the night moves into special and exhibition dances at 7:15 p.m., then into the men's fancy contest at 7:30 p.m. and women's fancy contest at 7:50 p.m. The men's grass contest follows at 8:10 p.m., with the women's jingle contest at 8:30 p.m., men's traditional at 8:50 p.m., and women's cloth and buckskin rounding out the competitive dancing at 9:10 p.m., per News On 6's reporting.
Familiar Faces Leading the Arena
Tim Washee will serve as emcee for the day, with Daniel Roberts directing the arena. Joshua Badoni and Emma Washee are set to serve as head man and head woman dancer, while the Ocese Band will perform as host drum, according to the same News On 6 account.
Beyond the dance contests, the powwow features traditional Native American dance, music and art, alongside arts and crafts, food vendors and stickball games. The event is meant to blend cultural celebration with the foundation's broader mission, and the organization's own campaign page describes the gathering as bringing together diverse communities to honor Native American traditions while raising awareness about disability inclusion, according to Gatesway Foundation's campaign page.
Where the Money Goes
Gatesway says contributions tied to the event help fund it directly, with the campaign page stating that every dollar goes toward supporting the individuals Gatesway serves. News On 6 reports that proceeds from the powwow will support Gatesway's nonprofit mission and help grow the annual celebration in future years.
This marks the third year Gatesway has staged the event, following a 2025 gathering that FOX23 described as the organization's second annual Disability Awareness Powwow, with proceeds then also tied to supporting Gatesway's mission of empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Those interested in general information about Saturday's event can reach organizers through the contact listed on the event page, [email protected].
