The annual San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Pow Wow will be held at the Cal State San Bernardino athletic fields from Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17.

The Pow Wow, free to the public, is a sacred space where people from across Indian Country can share their traditions, spirituality and individual style through sounds, motion and art. It is both a celebration and cultural competition with participants vying for prizes and honoring enduring Native traditions. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will present more than $250,000 in cash prizes.

The event will feature traditional bird singers and dancers, drum singing groups and vending from artisans representing Indian tribal nations from across North America and Canada. Native American dishes, such as crowd-favorite foods like fry bread, as well as a diverse array of authentic Native American traditional crafts and fine art will be available for purchase from vendors across all days.

The Pow Wow will start Friday, Sept. 15, 5 p.m.-midnight with an elder blessing the grounds, offering a prayer for good spirit and honoring Native People carrying on customs and traditions. This is traditionally followed by an exhibition of bird singing and dancing. One grand entry will take place.

On Saturday Sept. 16, 11 a.m.-midnight, two grand entries will take place: one in the afternoon and the other in the evening. Exhibitions of gourd singing and dancing will precede local Southern California Tribal bird singers and dancers opening the afternoon session.

Sunday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., will feature gourd dancing, bird singing and dancing, and one grand entry in the afternoon. That evening, winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded. To mark the official end of the Pow Wow, a formal, spiritual closing ceremony will take place.

For more information, visit the San Manuel Pow Wow website.