Powwows are an important part of Sauk and Mesquakie life. They provide ideal occasions for renewing old acquaintances, making new friends and reaffirming tribal ties.

Powwows are native-American gatherings to celebrate dance, song, the extended family, and tribal traditions. The word "powwow" is Algonquian in origin and initially referred to a council or gathering where dancing did not necessarily take place. Today there are two main kinds of powwows: traditional and competition. There is always dancing.

Traditional powwows are the more informal. There are no competitions. Dancers and drum teams are sometimes awarded "day money," or a small amount of cash to help cover part of their expenses. Ceremonies, such as "special honouring," are an important part of the proceedings. A tribal council most often organizes powwows, though a family or individual may also sponsor one. The descendants of Sauk Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe, for example, sponsored a ceremonial powwow May 26, 2001, at the Sac and Fox Community Building in Stroud, Oklahoma, to celebrate his life and achievements.

Competition powwows offer significant prize money for the dancers who place at or near the top of each dance category. Drum groups also compete for prize money. Both men and women take part, usually in separate events. A master of ceremonies oversees the formalized proceedings. Dancers are judged for their style and form, regalia, and ability to stay in time with the drum and stop on the final beat. There are different judges for each category. The judges are selected for their thorough knowledge of the dance and drum style. Competition powwows held on reservations do not charge admission and everyone, including non-natives, is welcome. Competition powwows attended by as many as 40,000 also take place in large cities. These are open to anyone willing to pay the price of admission.

Powwow dancers' regalia (never called costumes) are very elaborate, requiring countless hours of work to assemble, and may be worn by successive generations. Some regalia can be over a hundred years old.

The Sauk (Sac and Fox) of Oklahoma, located near Stroud, hold their annual powwow at their Dance Ground in early July. The Mesquakie hold their annual powwow every summer at the Old Battleground, near Tama, Iowa. Non-native people are invited to attend these events.