The 20th Annual Gathering for Our Children & Returning Adoptees Powwow will take place Saturday, November 7th, 2026, at the Minneapolis American Indian Center.
The annual gathering has long served as a place of welcome, healing, and reconnection for Native adoptees, formerly fostered individuals, birth relatives, and families. The gathering was established in 2003 to create a space for Native people separated from their families and communities through adoption and foster care to reconnect with their cultures and one another.
Past gatherings have welcomed adoptees and formerly fostered relatives back into the community through powwow, ceremony, and opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences. The event has also included the Wablenica Ceremony, featuring the Wablenica, or Orphan Song, as part of a healing ceremony recognizing the grief associated with separation from family and heritage.
In a previous story about the gathering, The Circle reported that hundreds of families came together for the powwow and described the event as an important space for community healing and celebration. Returning adoptees and formerly fostered relatives have been welcomed into Grand Entry, while community members and dancers have participated in recognizing their return.
This year’s gathering marks the event’s 20th annual powwow and will once again be held at the Minneapolis American Indian Center, 1530 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis.
Community members are encouraged to save the date for this milestone 20th annual gathering and stay tuned for more information as November 7th approaches.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Location: Minneapolis American Indian Center
Address: 1530 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404
