149th ANNUAL PONCA CELEBRATION

August 21-24, 2025
Fancy Dance World Championships
The Ponca Tribe invites the public to our Annual Celebration and Fancy Dance World Championships at White Eagle Park in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
​"Our old people told us that Poncas are a sacred people who have strong beliefs that are tied to our lands and our sacred ceremonies. Because of who we are, there are some responsibilities that we owe to ourselves and to God the Creator. 
An old spiritual sacred law among true traditional natives is; “Whenever the Great Spirit bestows upon you a sacred gift, you have a responsibility to perform and to take care of your special gift”. We Ponca’s know and believe that this way of life was given to us directly by Wakonda." 
​- Oliver Littlecook, Ponca Tribal Chairman and Elder
Ponca artist Mars Biggoose was commissioned in the 1960's to design the Great Seal of the Ponca Tribe. The Pipe is featured on the seal superimposed over the design as if to say, “always respect the sacred pipe,” which represents our religion, given to our ancestors by Wakonda where only his forearms were seen when he gave the sacred pipe to our people.

2025 Elder Pow Wow Assistance

​Must be at least 55 years or older by December 31st, 2025. This is for all enrolled tribal elders who meet the age requirement.
 
Every eligible person must submit the linked application to receive this assistance by the deadline of June 30th, 2025. No exceptions. Please only apply once.
 
Those out of the area will have their assistance mailed. Announcements will be made for those picking up in-person at a later date. 
 
Please be on the lookout for any updates and we thank you for your patience while getting these distributions ready. You may call (580) 762-8104 for questions. If you do not have access to a computer or smart phone, please make arrangements with family, friends, etc. who may assist you with this. The Ponca Tribal Senior Center will also be open for access to the computer in order to submit an application. 
 
Assistance amount is $200.00 per eligible elder applicant. 

Request for Qualification gathering form and project information. RFQ's are being accepted from Native American contractors for the H.U.D funded project. ​

Employment Opportunity

PONCA TRIBAL COURT JUDGE ORDERS 2024 PONCA TRIBAL ELECTION TO TAKE PLACE ON
​JUNE 22ND, 2024.

For any challenges, contact Vice-Chairwoman, Natalie Wabaunsee.
Phone: (405)247-1542
Email: [email protected]
OU Hockey Players
Tristan Glass #12
Karson Glass #44

Grandson's of Vincent Knight.
Great-Grandson's of Louie Knight

Ponca Tribal Chairman Oliver Littlecook was honored to be asked to do the ceremonial hockey puck drop to celebrate Indigenous Day on October 14, 2023.

Chairman Littlecook pictured with legendary country singer Toby Keith.

SPACE HEATERS

First come. First serve basis. ELDERS are preference

QUARtERLY NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2023

2023 PONCA POWWOW VIDEO
The Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma is a federally recognized tribe that has more than 3,500 registered members. In order to be eligible for Ponca Tribal membership, applicant must be at least one-eighth (1/8) Ponca and an application will need to be submitted to the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma with a copy of a certified birth certificate.
"Our Mother the Earth is the source of life. Water is her lifeblood. The well-being of the natural environment predicts the physical, the mental, the emotional and the spiritual longevity of our communities.
Mother Earth’s health, her nature, and that of our Indigenous Peoples are intertwined, inseparable. As Indigenous Peoples, we are of the Earth and the Earth is of us. Mother Earth is life. This inseparable relationship must be respected through rights-based instruments for the sake of our future generations and for the well-being of the Earth herself, for all people, for all life."
​ - Casey Camp-Horinek, Ponca Nation Elder, Emmy award winning actress, author, and an internationally renowned  Native and Human Rights and Environmental Justice Activist
Fancy Dance Casino is owned and operated by the Ponca Enterprise Gaming, LLC (PEG), a subsidiary of the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.  The sole purpose of Fancy Dance Casino is to provide a source of revenue and employment for the Ponca Tribe and residents, for the benefit of economic growth. The 10,000 square foot gaming floor has over 290 electronic games, plus delicious food and cold beverages.
"We, who have always been there, whose bones of untold generations of our ancestors enrich the soil, are the stewards, the caretakers of this land. Joining hands with all kindred spirits, native, and non-native, we can give future generations a place in the sun. Our children must learn how imperative is this truth as we teach continuity of culture, tradition, and our true history.
​To help overcome five hundred years of generational trauma, historical trauma, we elders must impart this knowledge to our young ones. Giving them a positive ancestral foundation helps engender our children with a strong, positive self-image. A pride in themselves and as natives will help future generations be more capable of making good life decisions."
- Dwaine Camp, Ponca Nation Elder
​© 2022 Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
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