US #5979
2025 Women’s Traditional

• Part of Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture set
• Honors Native American culture and heritage
• Features original paintings by Native American artist
  
  

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Value:  ...  more

US #5979
2025 Women’s Traditional

• Part of Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture set
• Honors Native American culture and heritage
• Features original paintings by Native American artist
  
  

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Value:  73¢, First Class mail rate, Forever
First Day of Issue:  April 25, 2025
First Day City:  Albuquerque, New Mexico
Quantity Issued:  4,500,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset, Flexographic
Format:  Panes of 20 stamps
Perforations:  Die Cut

Why the stamp was issued:  This stamp is part of a set of four issued to honor the gatherings of Native Americans known as Powwows.

About the stamp design: The images on the Powwow stamps are from original paintings by Cochiti Pueblo artist Mateo Romero.  He took photographs of dancers during the performance of traditional dances, then painted over the photos to create his abstract paintings.  The colors and shapes of the background accent the dancers’ movements and highlight the traditional dress of each dancer.
Four designs feature the following dances: Women’s Traditional Dance, Crow Hop Dance, Men’s Hoop Dance, and Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the largest powwow with over 100,000 people attending

About the Powwows set:  The rhythm echoes across the arena, calling dancers to the floor.  Their regalia gleams – beaded yokes, flowing fringe, feathered bustles – each piece carrying stories of tradition, family, and resilience.  The powwow is more than a celebration, it is a living expression of Native identity, a powerful link between past and present.
Powwows have been held for generations, bringing together tribes from across North America.  Once outlawed under US government policies that sought to suppress Indigenous culture, these gatherings endured, evolving into vibrant expressions of survival and pride.  Today, powwows remain central to native communities, uniting people in dance, song, and ceremony. 
This set honors four distinct powwow styles.  The Crow Hop is rooted in the traditions of the Crow people.  The Women’s Traditional Dance embodies strength and grace.  The Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance, often called the “butterfly dance,” symbolizes renewal.  Last, the Men’s Hoop Dance is a breathtaking display of agility and storytelling that reflects the cycles of life. 
With each beat of the drum and every step in the arena, powwow dancers keep their traditions alive, ensuring that the spirit of their ancestors will never fade.  These stamps celebrate the Native American culture and its unbreakable connection to the past.

History this stamp represents: As the dance begins a woman steps forward, each movement deliberate, her fringed shawl swaying with the beat.  There is no rush, no need for spectacle—only grace, strength, and quiet dignity.  She is a Women’s Traditional Dancer, carrying the weight of history with every measured step.
The Women’s Traditional Dance is one of the oldest powwow styles, deeply tied to the role of women as keepers of tradition.  Unlike the fast-paced Fancy Shawl Dance, this style is about storytelling through poise and control.  Some dancers gently bounce in place, swaying like tall grass in the wind.  Others take slow, purposeful steps, eyes scanning the crowd as if watching for the return of warriors.
Every element of the regalia—beaded yokes, long fringed shawls, and detailed moccasins—reflects family lineage, tribal heritage, and personal identity.  The movements of the dance mirror the resilience of Indigenous women, honoring ancestors who have passed down traditions through generations.
The Women’s Traditional Dance continues to be a powerful presence at powwows across North America. With each step, these dancers pay tribute to their ancestors, standing firm in their heritage while moving gracefully into the future.