Powwows are a beautiful celebration of Native American culture, community, and tradition. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular attendee, it’s important to follow the proper etiquette and rules out of respect for the Dancers, Drum groups, Elders, and the sacredness of the event.

When the Powwow or Grand Entry begins, you are expected to follow the rules and guidelines. Here’s what to expect:

• The Master of Ceremonies otherwise known as the MC will guide the Powwow, explain protocols, and let visitors know when participation is welcome. Please pay close attention, this helps to ensure everyone enjoys the experience respectfully.
• During Grand Entry, please stand and remove hats throughout the entire Grand Entry. The MC will announce when it begins and ends. Grand Entry is a moment of prayer, honor, and unity.
• Honor Veterans and Elders. Many Powwows include a veteran’s song or dance. When this happens, everyone is asked to stand and remove hats to show respect and gratitude.  Many people also take a stand for prayer songs.
• DO NOT enter the dance arbor. Once the arena (dance circle) has been blessed, please do not enter unless invited by the MC. Guests may join only during special dances. Dances such as:
• Intertribal Dances
• Round Dances
• Blanket Dances
• Honoring Dances

Participation opportunities:

• Veteran’s March
• Intertribal Dances
• Tiny Tot or Candy Dances (for the children)

Powwows welcome everyone to share in the celebration respectfully. If you’re unsure whether you may join a dance, simply ask a dancer, arena director, or the MC. They’ll gladly guide you.

• RESPECT the dancers and their Regalia. Do not call the regalia “costumes” as they’re a reflection of identity, family, spirituality, tradition, and culture.
• Do not touch Regalia without asking permission. This includes feathers, beadwork, and other sacred items.
• Use respectful language when talking about dancers, traditions, drums, and songs.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILMING:

• Always ask permission: If you wish to photograph or film an individual or group, ask for their consent first.
• Respect announcements: The MC will inform the crowd when photography / recording is not allowed, such as during prayers, certain songs or ceremonies.
• For professionals: If you plan to use images for commercial purposes, obtain written permission or a signed release form from the individual/s.

 

BEFORE YOU GO:

• Bring a chair: Seating is often limited. Please bring your own chair and be mindful that chairs placed under the arbor are reserved for the dancers. Chairs with shawls or blankets draped over them are also reserved.
• STAY SOBER AND DRUG FREE: Alcohol, drugs, and inappropriate behavior are strictly prohibited at all powwows.
• BE RESPECTFUL: Powwows are family-friendly events. Always use respectful languages and behaviors.

 

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

• Support Native Vendors and artists: Purchasing from vendors helps support local native business and communities and keeps traditions thriving.
• Be Mindful of Space: Avoid blocking the dancers, drums, or pathways.
• Come with a good heart: Powwows are a place of unity, healing, and celebration. Approach the event with openness, respect, and gratitude

ATLANTA – Now in its fourth year, First Voices Festival is coming full circle with more opportunities for Indigenous communities and Atlanta patrons. By inviting new collaborators, offering dynamic programming and more access to a variety of activities, new and returning guests are sure to enjoy these celebrations of Indigenous cultures.

The festival opens on November 14 with Art of Activism, a night of storytelling, music and traditional foods at 7 Stages with special guest William Harjo, a Muscogee (Creek) Elder who presents all over the country. A preshow reception in the lobby provided by food vendor and chef Tina Reyes (Apache) of Rez Juice brings us authentic sweet and savory Fry Bread and lemonade.

On November 15 and 16, the energy really picks up with a two day outdoor Powwow presented by Zintkala Zi PowWow, which is led by Buffalo Yellowbird, a citizen of Oglala Lakota Nation. The Powwow includes traditional drummers and dancers, traditional foods (fry bread, buffalo burgers, roasted corn, etc.), Indigenous vendors (jewelry, arts and crafts), demonstrations, and storytelling. Entry to these events is free, they are family friendly, and everyone is welcome.

On November 21, Out of Hand Theater will present Say Their Names at 7 Stages, which features  interwoven film and live performances written by Marcie Rendon, acclaimed author and citizen of the White Earth Nation. Following the presentation will be a community conversation about the lack of media representation for victims in marginalized communities, and how we can create a collective framework for continued dialogue, healing, and action.

First Voices Festival will conclude with a screening of the documentary She Cried That Day at Plaza Theatre on November 28. Director Amanda Erickson, a member of the San Carlos Apache, grew up in Peachtree City and earned her film degree at Georgia State University. Her film is about missing and murdered Indigenous women in New Mexico. This event will also feature a post-show conversation with Erickson.

These events are brought to you by 7 Stages, Turtle Island Trading, Little 5 Points Cultural District, Zintkala Zi PowWow, Plaza Theatre and Out of Hand Theater.

 

History and context:

 First Voices Festival began in 2022 when a few Atlanta organizations put their heads together to produce a multifaceted festival celebrating Indigenous cultures, something they weren’t seeing locally. At the center of these events was the Powwow, a traditional gathering with dance, music, food and socializing that originated among Native American tribes on the Great Plains.

For some, gathering in Atlanta marks a return to ancestral lands. Areas of what are now Georgia and Alabama were the territory of Muscogee (Creek) people, until many were forcibly relocated to Oklahoma in the 1800s where they were exposed to Plains Powwow traditions. Today Powwows are popular all over the United States and Canada, and many people wanted to see such an event in the heart of Atlanta.

Other events at First Voices Festival have included storytelling, talks, shared meals, concerts, and film screenings. All of these events celebrate Indigenous traditions and aim to bring awareness to the First Peoples of these lands, who are still here, and issues confronting them today.

 

About 7 Stages:

7 Stages brings local, national, and international emerging artwork of social, political, and spiritual importance to Atlanta audiences. Since 1979, artists of all kinds have found 7 Stages to be a haven for the development of new work.

7 Stages has resided on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Muscogee (Creek) people for over 46 years. While we produce content that spans nationally and internationally, it is essential for us to keep such inequities at the forefront of all that we do. We aim to honor these communities past, present and future through conversations, practices and programming that imagines and initiates what reparations look like for all. For every ticket sold, we include an Indigenous land use fee. The proceeds are donated to our Indigenous partners annually.

Our Mission: 7 Stages is a professional, non-profit theatre company devoted to engaging artists and audiences by focusing on the social, political, and spiritual values of contemporary culture. 7 Stages gives primary emphasis to international work and the support and development of new plays, new playwrights, and new methods of collaboration.

Our Vision: Our theatre will be a global center for the creation of vital conversations through collaborative performance.

 

Vitals: 

First Voices Festival

A celebration of Indigenous cultures.

November 14-28, 2025 in Atlanta, GA

Learn more at https://www.7stages.org/shows/first-voices-festival-2025/

Press inquiries: email devi@7stages.org

Photos and graphics available by request

Seeking professional actors, dancers, musicians of Indigenous descent.

“Say Their Names” – a live staged reading/developmental co-production between Out of Hand Theater and 7 Stages.

“Say Their Names“, written by Marcie Rendon (citizen of the White Earth Nation), is a multi-media presentation featuring interwoven film and live performances of the script, along with live drummers, dance and music. The goal is to raise awareness about  MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) and inspire audiences to take action to address the issue.

Working with identified partners in the Indigenous community, Out of Hand will create a framework to engage audiences in a discussion focused on Awareness, Amplification, and Action.

7 Stages will present this as part of the Home Brew Series New Works in Development Program during the First Voices Festival: A Celebration of Indigenous Cultures. 

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AUDITION DATE/TIME: 

Thursday, September 18, 2025

3pm – 7pm

Additional times may be available upon request. 

Auditions will take place at 7 Stages Theatre: 1105 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Please complete this form by clicking here to schedule an AUDITION TIME.

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Actors 

Looking for female presenting actors to perform the live staged reading of the script. 

Please bring a 2 minute monologue (spoken word, poetry or storytelling is welcome).

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Musicians and Dancers

Looking for accompanying artists of any gender to perform as ensemble members. 

Please bring a sample of your work (limited to 2 minutes)

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*NOTE: All selected performers should be available for rehearsals and performance during the week of November 17-21, 2025. Times TBD. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Please complete this form by clicking here to schedule an AUDITION TIME for the Live Staged Reading / Developmental Production of “Say Their Names” – a co-production between Out of Hand Theater and 7 Stages Theatre.

First Voices Festival – November 7-29, 2024

Located in Atlanta, Georgia on Muscogee (Creek) land, 7 Stages joins forces with Turtle Island Trading, Zintkala Zi PowWow, the L5P Business Association and Plaza Theatre in producing the third annual First Voices Festival, A Celebration of Indigenous Cultures. 

November 2024 activities will include the world premiere of What Are You? by Nicolette Emanuelle, a two day outdoor Powwow with Native American performers and vendors, a special screening of the documentary Bad River at Plaza Theatre, and other activities centered on Indigenous peoples.

–What Are You? – Nov. 7-24, 2024

What Are You? is an exploration of what it means to be multiracial in America. Created and performed by Nicolette Emanuelle, who has roots in the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina, this original theatrical production delves into the complexities of racial identity using absurd humor, original music, dance and even a game show to confront the relentless question “what are you?”. Nicolette weaves together striking and moving commonalities found in interviews with other multiracial individuals, highlighting their unique struggles and the beauty of their identities.

-Powwow – Nov. 16-17, 2024 – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tatankala “Buffalo” Yellowbird of Zintkala Zi PowWow returns to Little 5 Points with the third annual First Voices Festival Powwow, in partnership with 7 Stages, Turtle Island Trading and L5P Business Association. This event features intertribal celebrations of culture, dance, song, crafts, food and pageantry.

At noon both days, the Grand Entry fills the circle with a company of dancers in full regalia, taking audiences and participants on a journey of storytelling and cultural sharing through a variety of traditional dances. The dancers are surrounded by Indigenous jewelry, art, crafting tents, demonstrations and food, including fry bread from our friends at Three Sisters Soulfood! Our special guest is Muscogee (Creek) elder, storyteller and flute maker William Harjo, returning for his third year. Entry to the Powwow is free, family-friendly and everyone is welcome!

-Film Screening at Plaza Theatre plus Q & A – Nov. 29 – 7 p.m.

Bad River is a new documentary film which chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band and its ongoing fight for sovereignty, a story which unfolds in a groundbreaking way through a series of shocking revelations, devastating losses, and a powerful legacy of defiance and resilience which includes a David vs. Goliath battle to save Lake Superior, the largest freshwater resource in America. As Eldred Corbine, a Bad River Tribal Elder declares: “We gotta protect it… die for it, if we have to.”

This special presentation will feature an introduction by a Bad River representative and a post-show Q&A.

History of First Voices Festival: In 2022, 7 Stages teamed up with Turtle Island Trading, Zintkala Zi PowWow, and The Little 5 Points Business Association to bring a multifaceted festival to the city of Atlanta that celebrates Indigenous cultures, people, and practices. Many groups of performers, vendors, and various tribes were invited to a PowWow in Little Five Points, which is the home of 7 Stages and many cultural institutions. 

The Powwow was accompanied by an Art of Activism dialogue with Muscogee (Creek) elder and fine flute maker William Harjo, and complimentary meals provided by Three Sisters Soulfood. We also welcomed singer/songwriter and Native American flute player Shelley Morningsong (Northern Cheyenne and Scandinavian) and Fabian Fontenelle (Zuni/Omaha) for an evening of performances at 7 Stages.

Following the success of the first year, we extended the Powwow to a two day event in 2023, invited William Harjo back for storytelling and flute performances, and partnered with Plaza Theatre for a special screening of “RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World”.

 

About 7 Stages:

7 Stages brings local, national, and international emerging artwork of social, political, and spiritual importance to Atlanta audiences. Since 1979, artists of all kinds have found 7 Stages to be a haven for the development of new work.

7 Stages has resided on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Muscogee (Creek) people for over 43 years. While we produce content that spans nationally and internationally, it is essential for us to keep such inequities at the forefront of all that we do. We aim to honor these communities past, present and future through conversations, practices and programming that imagines and initiates what reparations look like for all. For every ticket sold, we include an Indigenous land use fee. The proceeds are donated to our Indigenous partners annually.

 

Our Mission: 7 Stages is a professional, non-profit theatre company devoted to engaging artists and audiences by focusing on the social, political, and spiritual values of contemporary culture. 7 Stages gives primary emphasis to international work and the support and development of new plays, new playwrights, and new methods of collaboration.

Our Vision: Our theatre will be a global center for the creation of vital conversations through collaborative performance.

Learn more about our First Voices Festival partners at 7stages.org/shows/first-voices-festival/

 

7 Stages Theatre

1105 Euclid Ave NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

404-523-7647

www.7stages.org

 

All press inquiries:

Devi Wells – Marketing Coordinator

devi@7stages.org

Images available upon request.

First Voices Festival Media Kit

 

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Atlanta, GA – The Second Annual First Voices Festival returns November 17-24, 2023. Events are family-friendly and everyone is welcome! Produced by 7 Stages in collaboration with Turtle Island Trading, Zintkala Zi PowWow, Little 5 Points Business Association and Plaza Theatre.

To kick off a full weekend of complimentary events, 7 Stages hosts an evening of storytelling and music on November 17 with Muscogee (Creek) elder and fine flutemaker William Harjo. For over 25 years, Harjo has traveled the world telling stories, playing and selling his handmade flutes. He will also be at the PowWow in the following two days, performing and demonstrating his craft. The opening reception will feature sweet and savory frybread dishes and refreshments from Cherokee-owned Three Sisters Soulfood.

For two days, November 18-19, the soccer field in Little 5 Points will be filled with dancers, musicians, vendors, and visitors to the only PowWow in the city of Atlanta. Indigenous people of many backgrounds will gather in the field to represent their cultures. The PowWow features a dance competition, performances by drummers, flutists, singers, and a variety of goods crafted by Indigenous artisans.

To cap off the events of First Voices Festival, a special screening of Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World will be held at Plaza Theatre on November 24. This documentary shows the enormous influence Indigenous people have on Rock n’ Roll, using interviews and archival footage. Indigenous art and jewelry vendors will host a pre-show minimarket in the lobby of Plaza Theatre.

At 7 Stages, we honor the Muscogee (Creek) people and their ancestral land as our theatre has resided on this unceded land for over 44 years. While we produce content that spans nationally and internationally, it is essential for us to keep such inequities at the forefront of all that we do. We aim to honor these communities past, present and future through conversations, practices and programming that imagines and initiates what reparations can be in a variety of ways. As we examine our role in the arts community, we strive to shed light on colonialism and seek to create brave spaces for Indigenous voices, stories, and leadership. We include a land acknowledgement before all performances and tickets include a land use fee. The proceeds are donated to our Indigenous partners annually. Co-producing the First Voices Festival is part of our ongoing commitment to this work.

Vitals:

Storytelling with William Harjo

November 17, 2023 – Reception at 6:30 PM, Storytelling at 7:30 PM

Admission: Complimentary

Venue: 7 Stages

Venue Address: 1105 Euclid Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307

Box Office #: 404-523-7647

Website: 7Stages.org

 

PowWow at First Voices Festival

November 18 and 19, 2023 – 10 AM to 5 PM

Admission: Complimentary

Venue: Little 5 Points

Venue Address: 1136 Austin Ave, NE Atlanta Georgia

Box Office #: 404-523-7647

Website: 7Stages.org

 

Screening of RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World

November 24, 2023 at 7:30 PM

Admission: $15

Venue: Plaza Theatre

Venue Address: 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Box Office #: 470-410-1939

Website: plazaatlanta.com