The notion that Pow-wows are only for Native Americans would be like saying rodeos are just for cowboys.

For more than two decades the has struggled to overcome a number of misconceptions about this celebratory and reverent event.

Joie Dennis鈥� Fort Collins living room is lined with Native American artwork and artifacts. Even though she has long studied and admired the culture as a Caucasian, she was reluctant to attend a Pow-wow.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think that we as non-Native Americans were allowed to come,鈥� said Dennis, now an NCIPA (pronounced N-SEE-pa) board member.

That misconception is something Jan Iron, NCIPA鈥檚 co-founder and president, has confronted since it was founded 22 years ago.

Instead of an insular cultural event reserved for Native Americans, Iron said people can think of NCIPA鈥檚 annual Pow-wow as a sort of county fair.

鈥淵ou hear the language, and you see and you taste,鈥� Iron said.

NCIPA is an outgrowth of the student Pow-wow that began at Iron, who is Navajo, said it is a way to educate Native American鈥檚 living in Northern Colorado about their cultural heritage. Even for tribes, such as hers, that historically didn鈥檛 celebrate Pow-wows.

鈥淚t is very important for the continuation of our ways, so that our children being raised in an urban area can be proud of who they are,鈥� Iron said.

With more than 35 tribes from the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains region NCIPA鈥檚 Pow-wow is the largest Native American gathering in Northern Colorado. It showcases song, dance, food, crafts and artist demonstrations.

NCIPA鈥檚 Intertribal Pow-wow showcases the varied customs and traditions observed by individual tribes, which Joie Dennis pointed out are often regarded singularly.

鈥淲e, as non-Native Americans, have a tendency to group them together as one unit, as one culture,鈥� Dennis said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like saying that all Europeans are alike.鈥�

Iron said revisionist history has glossed over many of the gory details of American government treatment of Native American tribes. She added that Pow-wow鈥檚 are also an opportunity to celebrate how tribes have endured.

鈥淥ften times people refer to us as the invisible people, the invisible culture, the forgotten people. All these different terms and I believe that鈥檚 true,鈥� Iron said.

For Native Americans, performing as part of the Pow-wow is a right bestowed on them by other members of their community. As Jan Iron can attest, family members or friends present gifts on their behalf, which earns them the 鈥渞ight鈥� to take part.

鈥淚t is respect for the arena. Respect for the traditions,鈥� Iron said. 鈥淲e are a giving society. We always give and value that more than receiving.鈥�

Iron鈥檚 son, Dwayne Iron earned the right to play drum and sing at Pow-wows in 1996.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting going to Pow-wows,鈥� Dwayne Iron, 23, said. 鈥淚 just look forward to singing. Like, right now i鈥檓 just antsy for a Powow.鈥�

Many of the songs he likes to perform meld contemporary music techniques and traditional Native American approaches.

鈥淎 lot of Round Dance songs today have English lyrics. And they talk about love or break-ups or jealousy just to have humor in it,鈥� he said.

Those new, contemporary influences on traditional Native American song and dance spill over into even younger generations.

Sisters Amaya and Mariah Quintana, ten and eight years-old respectively, perform a style of dance known as Jingle. It's a performance that requires a garment adorned with silver triangular bells. But Mariah Quintana鈥檚 jingle dress includes neon pink and green accents and an image of Tinkerbell from Walt Disney.

Jan Iron said this cultural fusion is common today among younger generations.

鈥淔or little kids, I see a lot of that,鈥� Iron said. 鈥淪ometimes they will have Minnie Mouse or Hello Kitty. That just helps them to enjoy being who they are, just little kids, but they鈥檙e also representing their Native American side.鈥�

The Quintana sisters said they often help their mother, who makes their attire, determine stylistic additions for their Pow-wow garments. Amaya Quintana added she often tells her non-native American classmates about her involvement in Pow-wows, such as this weekend鈥檚 NCIPA event.

鈥淚 feel proud that I am Native American and that I get to share this culture with other people,鈥� Amaya Quintana said.

Arts District is a collaboration of KUNC, RMPBS, and KUVO