Maricopa Elementary School’s gymnasium was awash in vibrant colors, song and dance during the city’s first social powwow in years. 

Families traveled from across Arizona and neighboring states for the gathering, which featured traditional dancing, singing and food vendors serving favorites like fresh frybread. 

“This is what I was going for, just to bring everybody together,” said PTO President Tylor Arthur, who helped organize the event. 

Comanche Red served as the powwow’s Southern host drum group, performing songs rooted in Oklahoma-style singing traditions. Singer Garrett Tahmahkera, who is from Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, said the group includes members from several tribal communities, including Navajo, Apache and Comanche backgrounds. 

“It just makes you feel good,” Tahmahkera said of the singing and dancing. 

A man participates in a gourd dance during a social powwow held at Maricopa Elementary School on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

A dancer dressed in jingle dress regalia, dances during Maricopa Elementary School PTO's inaugural social powwow on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Men in a drum group sing during grand entry at Maricopa Elementary School's social powwow on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Grassdancer Dhallin Yellowhair of Saratoga Springs, Utah dances in Maricopa Elementary School's gymnasium on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Deborah Martinez of Tuba City, Ariz. makes frybread during Maricopa Elementary School's social powwow on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

A mother braids her daughter's hair during Maricopa Elementary School's social powwow on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Kassidy Arthur has her regalia adjusted by her father and grandfather during Maricopa Elementary School's social powwow on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

A drum group member sings during Maricopa Elementary School's social powwow on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Grassdancer Dhallin Yellowhair of Saratoga Springs, Utah dances in Maricopa Elementary School's gymnasium on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Men in a drum group sing during grand entry at Maricopa Elementary School's social powwow on May 2, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

This story was first published in the June edition of InMaricopa.