Powwows issue pays homage to Native American culture

By Scott Tiffney

On April 25 in Albuquerque, N.M., the United States Postal Service will issue the Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture nondenominated (73¢) forever stamps in four designs in a pane of 20. The stamps honor the music, dance and rich cultural traditions of Native Americans depicted in paintings by Cochiti Pueblo artist Mateo Romero.

The stamps and pane are designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcala and feature powwow dancers performing the Crow Hop, Women’s Traditional, Women’s Fancy Shawl and Men’s Hoop.

“Powwows are festive gatherings where Indigenous people can celebrate their identities through dance, prayer, music, and art. Participants also socialize, enjoy traditional foods, and introduce and educate younger generations to the tribe-specific and Pan-Native customs of Native American people,” the Postal Service said in announcing the new issue.

Powwows include traditional and competitive dancing, singing, pageantry, the honoring of ancestors, arts and crafts, and gifts of support for those in need. Powwows take place every weekend in the United States, with the largest powwow being the annual Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque.

A first-day ceremony for the Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture issue is scheduled on April 25 at the 2025 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow to be held at the Tingley Coliseum - Expo New Mexico, 300 San Pedro Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time.

The Postal Service has a limited number of tickets for the first-day event, therefore those interested in attending are encouraged to register online with the Postal Service. Steve Monteith, USPS chief customer and marketing officer and executive vice president, will serve as the dedicating official.

Romero created the images for the stamps that each represent a specific dance using “photographs of four different dancers in traditional clothing performing his or her dance against a brightly colored background that highlights the dancer’s shaping and movement,” according to the Postal Service. The artist then painted on top of the photographs with thick, brightly colored brushstrokes to create an abstract expressionistic representation of the dancers on the four stamps.

Traditional powwow dancing, performed by members of a particular community, is passed down from generation to generation, along with the music and dance traditions of that tribe.

The crow hop shown on one of the stamps is considered a social dance meant to mimic a crow as it bounces around a field. Legend states that the crow’s dancing brought fire to keep people alive through cold winters.

Another stamp portrays the women’s traditional dance, which pays homage to grandmothers, mothers and life-givers. A graceful dance with methodical movements, it often features buckskin regalia. Each piece of the regalia is unique, often custom-made by the dancers and their families.

The women’s fancy shawl dance, illustrated on one of the stamps, represents the opening of a cocoon when the butterfly emerges. The shawl is usually the most extravagant piece. The fringed shawls are colorful, often featuring embroidery or ribbon work. During the dance, the fringe on the shawl has movement that coincides with the dancer showing this transformation.

The fourth stamp of the new issue pictures the men’s hoop, a dance that represents the never-ending circle of life. It is performed by a solo dancer, who begins with a single hoop and, as the dance continues, adds hoops that represent other elements such as humans, animals, wind, water and seasons.

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