GTB Starting the Year with Tradition

Stuff We Love

By Molly Cox | Dec. 20, 2025

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians hosts the Kchi Wiikwedong Anishinaabek Maawnjidowin Round Dance on Jan. 3, 2026, from 2pm-2am at Governors’ Hall at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. This annual event is one of the biggest of its kind in the country, with thousands of attendees participating in a night filled with singing, dancing, and good food. Round Dances are grounded in ceremony, typically held during the evening in the winter months since this is when loved ones who have passed on are closest. The tradition originated with the Nêhiyawak (Plains Cree) and has been adopted by other Native communities across North America. The Jan. 3 event will feature an impressive lineup of singers from across the Great Lakes region—with some coming from as far away as Washington and Saskatchewan—plus dance contests and a wide variety of vendors showcasing their wares. The event is family friendly and strictly drug and alcohol free. Learn more at gtbindians.org.