About Us

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized Indian tribe located on the San Manuel Indian Reservation near Highland, California. San Manuel exercises its inherent sovereign right of self-governance and provides essential services for its citizens by building infrastructure, maintaining civil services, and promoting social, economic and cultural development. As the Indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys, mountains and high deserts, the Serrano people of San Manuel have called this area home since time immemorial and are committed to remaining a productive partner in the San Bernardino region.

Contests

Over $250,000 in prizes

Contest Categories

2025
Men's Dance

Men's Dance

6 WINNERS FROM EACH MEN'S CATEGORY:
1st- $1,500
2nd- $1,200
3rd- $1,000
4th- $800
5th- $400
6th- $200
Golden Age (65+): Northern/Southern, Fancy/Grass
Seniors (50-64): Combined: Northern-Combined, Southern-Combined and Fancy/Grass-Combined
Adult (18-49): Northern Contemporary, Northern Traditional, Chicken Dance, Southern Straight, Grass, Northern Fancy, Southern Fancy

2025
Women's Dance

Women's Dance

6 WINNERS FROM EACH WOMEN'S CATEGORY:
1st- $1,500
2nd- $1,200
3rd- $1,000
4th- $800
5th- $400
6th- $200
Golden Age (65+): Northern/Southern, Fancy/Jingle
Seniors (50-64): Combined: Northern-Combined, Southern-Combined and Fancy/Jingle-Combined
Adult (18-49): Northern Buckskin, Southern Buckskin, Northern Cloth, Southern Cloth, Jingle, Fancy Shawl

2025
Teen Dance

Teen Dance

WINNERS FROM EACH TEEN CATEGORY:
1st- $500
2nd- $300
3rd- $200
4th- $100

2025
Junior Dance

Junior Dance

WINNERS FROM EACH JUNIOR CATEGORY:
1st- $250
2nd- $200
3rd- $150
4th- $100

2025
Drum Contest

Drum Contest - Over $100,000

BRING YOUR BEST SINGERS! ALL STYLES COMBINED, NO SEPARATE CATEGORIES.
1st- $20,000
2nd- $18,000
3rd- $15,000
4th- $13,000
5th- $12,000
6th- $10,000
7th- $9,000
8th- $8,000
9th- $7,000
10th- $6,000
11th- $5,000
12th- $4,000
13th- $3,000
14th to 17th- $2,000 each

2025
Youth Drum Contest

Youth Drum Contest

ALL STYLES COMBINED, NO SEPARATE CATEGORIES.
1st- $5,000
2nd- $3,000
3rd- $1,000
4th- $500
5th- $500
6th- $250
7th- $250
8th- $250
9th- $250
10th- $250

2025
Couples Routine

Cruz Chacon Memorial Sweetheart Special

PRACTICE YOUR COUPLES ROUTINE!
1st- $10,000
2nd- $7,500
3rd- $5,000
4th- $4,000
5th- $3,000
6th- $2,000
7th & 8th- $1,000
9th & 10th- $500

2023 Pow Wow Contestant Photography

Fill out the form below to request your photo from the 2023 San Manuel Pow Wow

Request your photos