MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Intertribal Circle celebrated the return of their New Year's Eve powwow after a years-long absence, marking a significant revival of tradition for the Native American community.
The sober celebration brought together families and community members to welcome the new year through dance, music and cultural expression at the Tthigwe Gymnasium on the Wgema Campus. Andrew Ynnocencio of the Menominee Tribe attended with his daughter Esperanza, highlighting the intergenerational nature of the event.
"This coming back means a lot to everybody here in the community, because they were kind of fading away — a lot of powwows — and this year we've had more powwows than we've had in many years," Ynnocencio said.
The powwow began with a grand entry led by veterans, including Rick House, a Oneida Tribe member who served in the Marine Corps. The ceremony honored those who have served and passed away while showcasing Native American traditions.
"The most important people about this powwow… they're watching — not a TV screen — they're watching from above. And we're here to demonstrate that we're still here," House said.
For Ynnocencio, sharing the experience with his daughter represents the continuation of cultural heritage across generations.
Watch: Families celebrate together as Milwaukee New Year's Eve powwow tradition returns
"It means the world to me — it really does — passing that culture, tradition, languages — you know, she speaks too, so, you know, that's a very important thing for us. Not to let that go," Ynnocencio said.
The celebration emphasized unity and cultural preservation, with participants from different tribes coming together.
"Everyone coming together and basically dancing together, intertribally, you know, and expressing themselves and who they are in a good way, you know, in a very good way," Ynnocencio said.
The Milwaukee Intertribal Circle revived the event after hearing community concerns about its absence. The free, public gathering aims to strengthen connections within Milwaukee's urban Native circle while providing a sober alternative for New Year's Eve celebrations.
The return of this tradition offers hope for the community's cultural continuity in the years ahead.
This story was reported on-air by Mike Beiermeister and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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