UC Santa Cruz Pow Wow 2025

Traditionally, the AIRC hosts an annual event called Indigefest during the spring quarter. Our annual event celebrates the culture, songs, dances, and arts of Indigenous people in a “pan-tribal” atmosphere of fellowship, trust, respect, and empowerment. In 1992, SANAI hosted  the North American Indian Spring Pow wow located at WestField on campus. At this point the students are continuing to research the history of the pow wow. In 2012, they also celebrated the life of Sophia Garcia Robles, a Native woman who served UCSC for 27 years in the Financial Aid office. She was actively involved with American Indian communities, and the schools wishes to demonstrate their deepest appreciation for her support. This year, the AIRC and SANAI will reach a larger audience in the greater Santa Cruz and Monterey communities by hosting a pow wow at the Kaiser Permanente Arena in downtown Santa Cruz. Vendors from throughout the State of California will be present with cultural items for sale, dancers will contest dance for prize money, and the recipients of the E.A. Forssgren Scholarship will be recognized for their achievement. The UCSC Pow Wow 2025 will be a unique opportunity for UCSC students and affiliates to engage directly with and celebrate Native American cultures.

Details:
Registration: UCSC Pow Wow 2025 is open to the public and free of charge.
Note: An application is required for vendors and volunteers.

Date: Sunday, May 18th, 2025

Time: Doors open at 10:30 AM, programming starts at 11:00 AM-6:00 PM

Location: Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Parking: CLICK HERE for information regarding Downtown Santa Cruz parking and a full city map of available parking lots.

Bus: Santa Cruz Metro has many routes that will drop off near Kaiser Permanente Arena. For bus routes and details CLICK HERE.

ADA Parking: Lot 17: The Laurel Street Extension Parking Lot (200 Laurel Street, near Wheel Works) or Street Parking on Spruce Street where it intersects with Front Street

Who: The event is open to the public and the affiliates of UC Santa Cruz. This program is open to all students consistent with state and federal law, the UC Nondiscrimination Statement and the Nondiscrimination Policy Statement for University of California Publications Regarding Student-Related Matters.

Hosts: UC Santa Cruz’s American Indian Resource Center,  People of Color Sustainability Collective, Student Alliance of North American & Indigenous Peoples, and the Kaiser Permanente Arena.

If you need any special access please email ariotutar@ucsc.edu or call: {831}459-2881