By Corvo Rohwer, Puyallup Tribal News
As fans around the globe celebrated their love of soccer, the Puyallup Tribe invited neighbors, relatives, friends and new faces to the reservation to partake in that joy alongside a wealth of cultural representation.
The Puyallup Tribe was the Official Host City Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Seattle, and welcomed visitors to partake in a series of events that had living Tribal culture at the forefront during the month of June.
Celebrations on the reservation began on June 12, with a community parade traveling down Portland Avenue. Participants were invited from both far and wide, with over eight international countries showing up to share their culture alongside school bands, community organizations, dancers and more.
World Cup Project Director Amy McFarland said the opening parade provided an opportunity to showcase the heart of what the June events would stand for: unity.
“For us, it was a chance to bring unity to the community and focus on lots of Indigenous peoples,” McFarland said.
The route began on 38th street and concluded at Tribal Administration, where a fireworks display lit up the evening sky and brought a close to the opening ceremony.
The full suite of the Puyallup Tribe’s events kicked off the following week, starting with the coastal protocol on June 18. Honoring the 1998 Power Paddle to Puyallup, the coastal protocol paid tribute to the 20 canoes that traveled to Puyallup Territory.
Digital Media Manager Hope Sandstrom served on the World Cup team and said it was meaningful to have representation from these original Tribes and celebrate them on the world stage.
“We as Native people come from all over in Indian country. Whether coastal or plains, all our people should be represented on the world stage and that is exactly what we did,” Sandstrom said. “We created an environment where all Native people were highlighted.”
The program began by giving time to families that traveled the farthest, starting with an invitation to the . Following them were the Coastal Tribes of Quinault, Hoh River, Quileute and Makah before granting the floor to the S’klallam Tribes of Lower Elwha, Jamestown and Port Gamble. The Northern Puget Sound Tribes of Lummi, Swinomish, Tulalip and Suquamish joined in the evening, before the final group of Medicine Creek Treaty Tribes of Puyallup, Muckleshoot, Nisqually and Squaxin Island closed the event.
Following the coastal protocol, powwow weekend commenced June 19, inviting hundreds of Tribal Members and spectators to gather on the Puyallup Reservation for an unforgettable community event. Fifteen competition drum groups and an additional seven non-competition drums surrounded the floor of the powwow tent, where hundreds of dancers from all ages would arrive following grand entry.
From the tiny tots to the golden age, a wide variety of contests would take place over the weekend, with categories including fancy, jingle, traditional, grass, basket hat and more. Additionally, a powwow special was held Saturday, June 20, to honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People, with a Red Regalia contest available for men and women aged 18 and over.
“One of the crowning moments for me was the red dress special, which brings attention to MMIWP,” McFarland said. “Watching the dancers that got on the floor was really an honor, and it’s such an important topic that we must continue to talk through.”
The event tent shifted gears to prepare for the Stickgame Tournament the final weekend of June. Also known as sləhal, the traditional competitive game has been played for many reasons, from solving disputes to family entertainment.
The competition kicked off June 26 with a youth tournament, which saw multiple team captains leading their groups through the double-elimination bracket.
The main tournament began the following day, with more than 100 teams registering to compete. From the start of the first game all the way to the final two, the tent was filled with songs and the thunderous heartbeat of hand drums all weekend.
Throughout the month, the Tribe also hosted watch parties at various locations, including the Emerald Queen Casino, Woven Seafood & Chophouse, Commencement Bay Cannabis/Firecracker Alley and the official Puyallup Tribal Fan Zone at Tribal Admin.
Each location offered a different viewing experience, ranging from drinks by the water to more family-friendly experiences.
McFarland said the viewing parties allowed for people to gather in social spaces that would allow them to not just enjoy a good match of soccer, but also to learn more about the Tribal businesses throughout Tacoma and support local vendors.
“We had membership all the way through, from folks on the ground doing the hard work, to dancers, organizers and security staff,” McFarland said. “Membership was also central to providing vendor space, whether it was food, merchandise or artists. I’m glad we had different opportunities for membership to become involved.”
This sponsorship served as the first time an Indigenous nation was formally represented at the World Cup. It provided an opportunity for the Tribe to share its living culture and stories of the region with the wider world.
Whether it was a stunning powwow performance, a tense stickgame or simply cherished time with family and friends, these World Cup cultural events brought people together to create lasting memories.
