United Lenape Nations Held Third Annual Pow Wow

The event celebrated Indigenous heritage and Brooklyn's Native roots at Prospect Park.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Cultural

Screen-print poster illustration of a traditional ceremonial drum and leather moccasins on grass, symbolizing a cultural gathering. — The third annual United Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow drew visitors to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park this weekend to honor Indigenous heritage through music and dance. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The third annual United Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow took place this weekend at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park. The event brought together members of Indigenous nations for traditional dance, music, and socializing.

Why it matters

The gathering honored Brooklyn's deep Native roots while providing a space for Indigenous nations from across the country to connect. It represents the successful return of a significant cultural tradition to Prospect Park.

This year marked the third annual iteration of the United Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow. The event follows a 2024 culture fair and revives a tradition that saw intertribal Pow Wows in the park between 1916 and 1972.

The players

United Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations

This organization works to represent and support the cultural interests of Lenape people.

George Stonefish

He is an organizer who helped revive modern Pow Wow traditions in the city in 2018.

Prospect Park Alliance

This non-profit organization manages the maintenance and cultural programming for the park.

The details

Participants traveled from as far as South Dakota, North Carolina, and Wisconsin to join local community members. The program featured traditional drumming, singing, and dancing alongside displays from Indigenous artists, vendors, and food makers.

Intertribal Pow Wows were previously held in Prospect Park from 1916 to 1972.
George Stonefish organized the first event in the modern series in 2018.
The Prospect Park Alliance hosted a culture fair in 2024.
The first full Pow Wow returned to Prospect Park in 2025.
The third annual Pow Wow took place on October 3-4, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The 2026 event extends the legacy of the Intertribal Pow Wows at Prospect Park (1916-1972) by re-establishing a full-scale cultural gathering at the site. This revival signals a broader cultural trend of reclaiming historical spaces for Indigenous expression in major metropolitan hubs.

Residents and visitors were able to experience Indigenous culture through public access to drumming, traditional dance, and food markets at the LeFrak Center. This event provided a unique opportunity for the Brooklyn community to engage directly with diverse Native American traditions.

The takeaway

Events like these play a vital role in preserving and sharing Indigenous history within dense urban environments. They offer an accessible way for the public to learn about and support the ongoing vitality of Native American arts and social traditions.