ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 29, 2025 — The U.S. Postal Service dedicated its Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture stamps today at the Gathering of Nations, the largest powwow in the country, attended by over 100,000 people. The Forever stamps, featuring vibrant paintings of Native American dancers, aim to showcase the cultural significance of powwows and honor Indigenous heritage.
Steven W. Monteith, the Postal Service’s chief customer and marketing officer and executive vice president, highlighted the stamps’ role in storytelling. “The Postal Service takes great pride in our stamps and the unique opportunity they offer to tell the story of America. That’s why we’re thrilled to be a part of this celebration of Native American music, dance and culture,” he said. “We hope they inspire a deeper appreciation of Native American culture and influence all who see them.”
The stamps, designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá, feature original paintings by Mateo Romero, a Southern Keres Cochiti Pueblo tribal member. Romero captured dancers in traditional regalia through photographs, overlaying them with bold, colorful brushstrokes to create abstract expressionistic images. “It’s a huge honor to be able to show the face of powwow culture to the world and take an art form like painting, with such historic ideas embedded in it, and transform it into a stamp,” Romero said. “The colors, movement and celebratory nature of this work point to a human condition of joy, ceremony, spirituality, culture and rebirth.”
The dedication ceremony included Royale Dá, KOAT-TV news anchor and master of ceremonies; the Native American Women Warriors Honor Guard; and Kansas Begaye, a Native American recording artist. The event, held in Albuquerque, celebrated powwows as vibrant gatherings where Indigenous communities share dance, music, prayer, and art while preserving tribal traditions.
Powwows are central to Native American culture, fostering community and identity through traditional foods, socializing, and education for younger generations. The term “powwow” likely derives from the Algonquian word “pau wau,” used by the Narragansett in the mid-17th century to describe community gatherings, according to historians. These events feature intricate regalia that blends contemporary and ancestral elements, such as moccasins, fancy shawls, glass beads, and ribbons, often passed down through families.
The four-stamp pane, issued in sets of 20, showcases distinct dances: a young woman performing the Crow Hop in a teal dress against a blue and purple background; a Women’s Traditional dancer in brown, ecru, and white regalia with an orange, yellow, and green backdrop; a Women’s Fancy Shawl dancer in a scarlet-fringed cape resembling a bird’s wing, set against turquoise, azure, and gold; and a Men’s Hoop dancer in a blue vest and multicolored breechcloth, balancing hoops with one foot in mid-air. The pane’s header reads “POWWOWS Celebrating Native American Culture,” with a powwow drum depicted in the selvage.
As Forever stamps, they will remain valid for 1-ounce First-Class Mail letters, regardless of future rate changes. News of the stamps is being shared on social media with the hashtag #PowwowsStamps.
The Postal Service’s commitment to representing all Americans is evident in its stamp program, which has long honored Indigenous heritage. Powwows, with their dynamic blend of tradition and modernity, are a unique contribution to American culture, connecting communities across generations. The stamps serve as a visual tribute to these gatherings, inviting a broader appreciation of Native American traditions.
