San Juan College’s learning commons plaza was filled with regalia and spectators as they gathered for the Intertribal powwow on Saturday.

The wind was present while the grand entry began, as Darren Vincenti carried the eagle staff ahead of the dancers.

Danielle Coleman of Ganado, Arizona, sang the national anthem in Navajo, and Dalilah Tsosie, Miss Indigenous San Juan College, said the pledge of allegiance.

The Horses and Southwest Singers were the night’s drum groups.

Not too far from the plaza inside the sun lounge, vendors were lined up selling jewelry, art and other crafts.

Outside on the plaza, spectators pulled out blankets and wore jackets as the wind blew and sun hid behind clouds.

The intertribal dance kicked off the dance categories. The tiny tots, women and men categories followed.

Analeah Vincenti, 7, was at the powwow in her jingle dancer regalia and participated with the young dancers.

Vincenti said the weather was cold, but she danced comfortably with a blanket around her.

Shauna Gallegos, Vincenti’s mother, said her daughter comes from a long line of powwow dancers and was introduced to powwow dancing last summer.

Brunetta Yazzie traveled from Utah with her daughter Kalena Wells and niece Moriah Garcia after seeing the event on Facebook.

Well’s regalia was made by a family friend and is used for the Bear Dance, Yazzie said.

The men’s category featured two dancers who received a roar of support while dancing and immediately after from the audience, resulting in another song.

Tyrese Jensen of Dulce was one of the those dancers.

Jensen said dancing is always exhilarating, especially when backed by the audience.

“Once you spark something, you want to keep going,” he said.

Dancing is a way of getting through all the things people go through in life, he said.

Jensen was happy to be a part of the audience’s day that brought them some joy.

Jensen's girlfriend, Alexis Long of Farmington, made her dancing debut at the powwow.

Despite the cold weather, Long said she wanted to get up and dance for her family as they supported her debut. She said her family’s support pushed her through the dance.

A person in the audience received praise from the emcee, as well as a laundry basket donation for braving the cold after participating in the round dance at the end of the powwow.

With the sun setting and the wind persisting, master of ceremonies Otis Halfmoon informed the audience of the event’s early conclusion.

Halfmoon said regardless of the weather, he really enjoyed the powwow and called the Gourd Dance excellent.

In speaking with Brandon Ashley, Native American Center director, Halfmoon agreed that the powwow is a beginning to something special for students.

“They walk in two cultures and they want to follow this way of life, and that’s really great (because) we need to support our students,” he said.