The 37th annual Red Mountain Eagle Powwow celebrated Indian Country once again in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on Nov. 2 and 3 at the Salt River Ballfield. 

Many distinguished tribal leaders, seniors, performers, dancers, singers and more joined emcees Bart Powaukee (Northern Ute) and Ruben Little Head (Northern Cheyenne) for a weekend of celebrating. 

Additionally, writer/director Tazbah Chavez (Bishop Paiute/Nüümü/Diné/San Carlos Apache), actor Thosh Collins (Akimel O’odham/Seneca/Osage) and musician AntoineX (Omaha/Oglala/Sicangu Lakota) attended the powwow, which saw a record number of guests this year. 

The two-day celebration featured close to $40,000 in prize money across six performing categories: Golden Age (60+), Senior Adults (45-59), Junior Adults (18-44), Teen (13-17), Junior (7-12) and Tiny Tots (0-6). 

Furthermore, the powwow held special contests for men’s and women’s fancy spotlight dance, a hand drum contest, team dancing and owl dancing. 

The early November weather brought unexpected heat to the celebration. Thankfully, members of the Salt River Fire Department were on hand to save lives—literally. During the Saturday-afternoon performances, an out-of-town performer began feeling ill due to the unseasonable daytime heat. Firefighters Luis Lopez and Jesus Alvarado quickly began immediately assisting the performer to help bring down their body temperature and avoid heat exhaustion. Additional staff members helped them. 

Afterward, Lopez and Alvarado stated that jumping into action to save lives is just another day in the life of being a firefighter for the SRPMIC.

Grand Entry 

Before the grand entry, Marlon Deschamps (Cree Nation of Maskwacias) from Alberta, Canada, provided the invocation. “I’m from Maskwacias in Alberta, Canada, but I make my home out here in the states in North Dakota,” said Deschamps. “I’d like to thank the powwow committee for putting together this celebration for us to all get together and meet up with family. I’d also like to thank the Creator for a beautiful day.”

The Peeposh Veterans Association from the Gila River Indian Community (District 7), Miss Salt River 2025-2026 Emma Scabby, Billings (Montana) Pow-Wow Princess Azaylea Medicine Horse and others highlighted the daytime grand entry. 

Northern Cree, the Grammy Award–winning drum group, was the host drum. 

“Yeah, it’s hot outside,” said emcee Little Head. “But if you dance, you’ll cool off … the old way,” he said with his signature smile. 

In fact, many did cool off in “the old way,” as singers, dancers, performers and visitors celebrated their cultures, traditions and songs.

To inquire about hosting a vendor booth during next year’s Red Mountain Eagle Powwow, contact the committee directly by emailing redmountainpowwow@gmail.com. For general questions, contact Victorialyn McCarthy at (480) 234-1432.