CNO hosts 18th Annual Choctaw Powwow

DURANT, Okla. – The 18th Annual Choctaw Powwow was the first event of November’s Native American Heritage Month scheduled for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO). Regarded as one of the nation’s largest and best powwows, it ran November 3-5 at the Choctaw Event Center.

The Choctaw Powwow offered one of the largest purses in the nation, including $1,000 in some dance categories and $10,000 for first-place drum competitors.

Kerry L. Steve, Choctaw Cultural Center director of arts said, “In past years dancers represented 65 tribes from across the United States and Canada. It has become an international event with live internet coverage reaching almost 700,000 views in more than 100 countries.”

Photos by Mallory Jackson and Shelia Kirven