ALLENDALE, Mich. — Hundreds gathered this past weekend in the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) fieldhouse this past week in Allendale, Michigan, near Grand Rapids, for the 2024 “Celebrating All Walks of Life” Powwow.
On Sunday afternoon, the crowd enjoyed the Native American food, drumming, dancing. One highlight was the potato dance, which is a test to the agility of two dancers who can move in the dance arena with a potato held between their foreheads while keeping it from falling to the floor.

(Photo/Sisters, Philomena and Sahara Peay (Potawatomi), enjoyed the potato dance.
Organized by the Grand Valley State University’s Native American Student Association (NASA), the two-day powwow was a traditional powwow. NASA worked in strong collaboration with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Division of Inclusion and Equity to plan and coordinate this large-scale event.
All photographs taken by Levi Rickert










