Activities for the 106th Meskwaki Annual Powwow have been canceled for 2021. The announcement came Sunday from the Meskwaki Powwow Association. -- News Chronicle File Photo

The Meskwaki Nation Powwow Association announced last weekend the Annual Powwow scheduled for Aug. 12-15 had been canceled.

A press release from the organization indicated the reason for cancelling was not due to the increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the state, but instead because of circumstances beyond the control of the Powwow Association.

In late July, Meskwaki Nation initiated a mask mandate on the Settlement due to updated CDC guidelines that recommended people, even those who are vaccinated, to wear masks while indoors within high-transmission areas.

Tama County, along with much of the rest of the state, has been listed as a high-transmission area by the CDC for the last few weeks.

New cases on the Settlement and in the surrounding communities have been slowly increasing this summer as the highly contagious delta variant has spread across the country. New cases have included some breakthrough infections of those that had previously received a vaccine.

The cancellation marks the third time in the past six years the Meskwaki Annual Powwow has been canceled, with last year’s event being called off due to the pandemic.

Thankfully, the Meskwaki community was able to enjoy a powwow on the Meskwaki Powwow Grounds in early July as they celebrated Meskwaki Nation Day on July 13.

The Annual Powwow would have been the 106th gathering on the Settlement in Tama. The event has grown over recent decades as dancers, drum groups, and spectators travel in from all over to celebrate Indigenous culture with the Meskwaki people.