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Ken "Wazhushk" Ratte, of the Saugtraux nation of Broken Head, Manitoba, has a conversation with a customer in front of his souvenier booth, during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School on Saturday, March 17.

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• Ken "Wazhushk" Ratte, of the Saugtraux nation of Broken Head, Manitoba, has a conversation with a customer in front of his souvenier booth, during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-1_fullsize.jpg
• Bunky Echo-Hawk, center, renowned artist and Nike designer, gets set up to do a live painting for the University of Michigan during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-8_fullsize.jpg
• The feathered back of the Regalia of a Mez Northern traditional Warrior is shown here during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-2_fullsize.jpg
• Annamae Pushetonequa, of Tama, Iowa, and her grandson, Jamison Hill, 2, head into the halls of Pioneer during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-3_fullsize.jpg
• Richard Snake, of the Delaware nation and from Dearborn Heights, cracks a joyful smile during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-4_fullsize.jpg
• Arthur Zapata, of Athens, leads his drum group "Southern Straight Singers" during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-5_fullsize.jpg
• Pheonix "Sky" Cottrelle, 3, of the Aamijwnaang nation from Ontario, Canada, dances to the drum beats during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-6_fullsize.jpg
• Levi Moore, 2, of Belleville, heads back to his parents after dancing to some drum beats during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-7_fullsize.jpg
• Bunky Echo-Hawk, of Pawnee, Oklahoma, begins painting a special piece inspired by the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow for the University of Michigan, during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-9_fullsize.jpg
• George Martin, the "Head Veteran," leads the way for the grand entry during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-10_fullsize.jpg
• Jacob Reed, of Morenci, dressed in Mez Northern Traditional Warrior Regalia, dances in the grand entry during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-11_fullsize.jpg
• Bunky Echo-Hawk paints a special art piece during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-12_fullsize.jpg
• Bunky Echo-Hawk puts the finishing touches on his live art piece during the 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, held at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, on Saturday, March 17. /calendar/photologue/photos/Powwow/cache/Powwow-13_fullsize.jpg

• Event preview: 40th Dance for Mother Earth Powwow in Ann Arbor happens this weekend

Pioneer High School is the new setting for the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend.

"Holding the powwow in Ann Arbor is part of the transition of bringing it back to the U-M campus," said Forrest Cox, a University of Michigan undergraduate student and member of the Native American Student Association. "The powwow is an important part of retaining our culture."

Artist Bunky Echo-Hawk from the Pawnee tribe in Oklahoma helped kick off the powwow Saturday by creating what he called "live art."

"During the opening drum call, I'll be painting whatever inspires me," Echo-Hawk explained.

Pioneer's gymnasium was filled with visitors and participants in what has become one of the country's biggest powwows. Circles are set up on the gymnasium floor where drummers play and chant in harmony as part of the grand entry that officially begins the powwow.

Aaron Martin came from South Bend, Ind., to dance.

"We're a dying culture, and it means everything for me to be here," said Martin, a member of the Pokagon Potawatami tribe.

Martin, like many participants, was dressed in regalia unique in their colors and materials. Veronica Townshend came from Pontiac but is originally from Florida.

"I'm a Florida Seminole," she said. "I've been dancing for 20 years to honor my ancestors."

U-M also is known for its strong program for Native American studies. Cassie Freeman came from California this weekend to check out the school and was met by her cousin and aunt from Harbor Springs.

"We come to the powwow to see family and friends," said Freeman's Aunt, Melissa Laughlin. "This is such a happy place."

Laughlin's daughter Josephine, 14, represented her tribe dressed as a princess.

"I'm part of the Little Traverse Bay Bands Odawa Indians," she said. "This is my first time here, and I really like the atmosphere."

The 40th annual Powwow, which has more than 31 vendors, runs through Sunday evening. For information, go to http://www.umich.edu/~powwow/.