Welcome to the 28th Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow Honoring John D. Barbry
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Date & Times
May 16 & 17, 2026 – Gates Open Saturday 10 am ~ Sunday 10 am
Location
Earl J. Barbry Sr. Convention Center at Paragon Casino Resort, Hwy 1 in
Marksville, LA, 71351. (Indoors)
Admission
General Admission – $8; Adult Weekend Pass – $15; Children (5- 12 yrs) – $5;
Dancers will be admitted with assigned numbers.
Schedule of Events
| Saturday, May 16 | 10:00am | Gate Opens |
| 10:30am | Tunica-Biloxi Singers & Legend Keeperswith Penobscot Elder Bert Polchies (Storytelling & Songs) | |
| 12:00pm | Gourd Dancing | |
| 1 – 4:30pm | Grand Entry; Social Dancing & Competition | |
| 6:00pm | Tunica-Biloxi Singers & Legend Keeperswith Penobscot Elder Bert Polchies (Storytelling & Songs) | |
| 7:00pm | Grand Entry, Social Dancing, & Competition | |
| Sunday, May 17 | 10:00am | Gate Opens |
| 10:30am | Tunica-Biloxi Singers & Legend Keeperswith Penobscot Elder Bert Polchies (Storytelling & Songs) | |
| 11:00am | Gourd Dancing | |
| 12:00pm | Grand Entry; Social Dancing; Competition Finals | |
| 4:00pm | Contest Awards |
2026 Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow Head Staff
Head Lady
Nicole Pavatea-Santos
Apache, OK
Head Man Dancer
Tony Wahweotten
Mayetta, K
Head Dance Judge
Randy Frazier
Oklahoma City, OK
Head Gourd Dancer
Jake Rivers
Many, LA
Arena Director
Bill Takes Horse
Colbert, OK
Southern Host Drum
Pawnee Yellow Horse
Pawnee, OK
Co-Emcee
Rob Daugherty
Jay, OK
Co-Emcee
Tim Tall Chief
Jones, OK
Northern Host Drum
Meskwaki Nation
Tama, IA
Invited Drum
Mato Pejuta
Santee, NE
Invited Drum
Ottertrail
Apache, OK
Native American Dance Competition
Golden Age (Ages 55+)
Men’s & Women’s Northern and Southern categories
700, 500, 300
Senior Adult (Ages 36-54) Junior Adult (Ages 20-35)
Men’s – Traditional, Straight, Grass, Fancy
Women’s – Cloth, Buckskin, Jingle, Fancy
700, 500, 300
Men’s Chicken (Ages 17+)
700, 500, 300
Teens (Ages 13-19) Juniors (Ages 7-12)
Boy’s – Traditional, Straight, Grass, Fancy
Girl’s – Cloth, Buckskin, Jingle, Fancy
300, 150, 75
Tiny Tots (6yrs. & under on Sat & Sun)
Entry fee is $8 for dance competition participants. No fee for Tiny Tots or Gourd Dancers.
Dancer Registration
Saturday, May 16 ~ 8:00AM – 1:00PM
Online Registration
Vendors
The Pow Wow Features Over 30 Food and Craft Vendors
Contact Babette Bordelon – babette.bordelon@tunica.org or Paulette Voiselle – pvoiselle@tunica.org or 800-272-9767
Pow Wow Education Day
For group reservations, contact Elisabeth Pierite – elisabeth.pierite@tunica.org or 318-240-6432.
Lodging
Reservations are welcome by direct phone call to our special group reservations
number at Paragon Casino Resort reservations office (800) 642-7777 and/or fax to (318) 240-6601.
Pow Wow Participant Hotel Rate Code – TBM14GR
Not sure if a hotel stay is right for you? No problem! Be sure to check out our
resort-style RV Park and Cabins
If you are a Tunica-Biloxi citizen, please log in to the Citizen’s Portal for more information about our tribal rates and codes.
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SAVE THE DATE
28th Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow
May 15-16, 2027