Upcoming Pow Wows, Lumbee Tribe Federally Recognized and more on PowWows.com
Published 8 days ago • 8 min read
As the year winds down, and I look back on everything we packed into 2025, I’m just so thankful and grateful for you, the PowWows.com community.
I genuinely love that I get to hang out with you each week in this newsletter. Honestly, writing these emails is one of my favorite things I do all week, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy putting them together.
I hope during this holiday season you’re able to slow down a little, spend time with your family, and catch your breath. From my family to yours, I wish you the happiest of holidays and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
A couple things going on right now…
First, the year is wrapping up and we finished our last PowWows.com livestream this past weekend. If you missed it, no worries, you can catch the replay on our YouTube channel.
Also, after lunch today we’re loading up the car and heading to Florida. Since our daughter Brooke lives down there and works at Walt Disney World, she’ll be working Christmas Eve and Christmas. So we’re doing what any family would do… we’re taking Christmas to her. We’ll be spending the holiday at Walt Disney World, and we’re excited because no matter where we are, getting time together is the whole point. We’re keeping our traditions alive, just in a different zip code this year.
And if you haven’t checked out The Circle yet, come join us.
It’s our new community for PowWows.com, and I’m honestly pumped about what it’s becoming. It started as an experiment, just to see if it would work, and so far people are loving it. The conversations are real, the vibe is welcoming, and it feels so much better than a Facebook group. So if you’ve ever avoided joining because Meta wasn’t your thing, or Facebook groups just never clicked for you, this is for you. It’s free, and we’ve got everything from general chit chat to travel, powwow crafts, and a bunch more.
The Circle
Join The Circle to connect, learn, and share in a FREE supportive community from PowWows.com.
One more quick thing: our Pow Wow Calendar already has dates coming in for 2026. A lot of events have already sent their updates, which means you can start browsing and planning now. The first couple of months are going to be packed, so don’t sleep on it if you’re hoping to travel and catch a few early-season pow wows.
Thank you again for your support, for sharing PowWows.com with others, and for being part of what makes this community special. And trust me, 2026 is going to be a big year for us. We’re celebrating a huge milestone, so keep an eye out for announcements and a few fun ways we’re going to celebrate together.
The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is one of the largest Native communities in the United States, with roughly 60,000 citizens centered in Robeson County and surrounding areas. The Lumbee have been recognized by the state of North Carolina since 1885, but for generations they have pushed for full federal recognition so their nation can access the same government to government relationship, programs, and resources available to federally recognized tribes.
That struggle has a long, complicated history.
A key turning point came in 1956, when Congress acknowledged the Lumbee but specifically withheld the federal benefits that come with recognition. Decades later, the Lumbee pursued the standard federal acknowledgement process through the Department of the Interior, but their path kept running into that 1956 law and the legal confusion it created.
One of yesterday’s projects to keep my cat Jasper from batting around Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the lamb! I did a little scene of Bethlehem inside the lid of a cigar box. After the holidays are over I can just keep everything in the box and put it away for next year!
We lost 2 packages to porch pirates …Thank you to anyone who had me on Elfster! The post office has not been a help in figuring out the senders so far.
Every week, I like to pause and look back at what happened “this week” across Native history, not because the past is past, but because it is still with us. Some stories are heavy. Some are inspiring. A lot are both at the same time. And the more we learn, the better we get at seeing Native communities as living, growing nations and cultures, no...
Hear stories come alive when you listen to audiobooks written by Indigenous authors. From powerful personal histories like Julian Brave NoiseCat’s We Survived the Night to edge-of-your-seat suspense like The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie, discover the stories that speak to you.
Curious about full cast audiobook productions? Novels like Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. Wilson and The El by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (featuring a cast of 14 narrators!) offer immersive listening experiences. Or simply fall head over heels with romantic listens like Love Is a War Song by Danica Nava.
For those who revere Native American culture, The Lakota Way 2026 Wall Calendar features contemporary and traditional artwork by Lakota and Iroquois artist Jim Yellowhawk. Along with vibrant art, each month includes history and wisdom from Joseph M. Marshall III, a Native American Indian teacher, historian, Lakota craftsman, and author.
Sticker of an eagle tail feather Pow Wow fan. Show your Pow Wow pride on your laptop, water bottle, or car. 3 sizes available. Clear vinyl decal with white outlining. FREE Shipping
Men's Fancy Dance bustles sticker. Everyone loves men's fancy dance! Now show it off on your laptop, water bottle, or car. 4" Clear vinyl decal with white lines.
Show your Pow Wow spirit with this sticker of the men's Northern Traditional dance bustle. Clear vinyl with white outlines. Two sizes available FREE Shipping
How to Build a Business That Grows While You Live the Life You Want
My wife and I have taken my daughter to Disney World 42 times in her life.It wasn’t wishing upon a star that lets us have that much family time.It’s intentionally crafting a business that grows while setting up time and space to build a life that you want to live in. Ready to level up your business?
