MSUB Alumni Powwow Breakfast postponed

Rising Delta variant infections rates give organizers pause

Billings, Mont. (Sept. 14, 2021) – The MSU Billings Foundation & Alumni have postponed the 2021 Alumni Powwow Breakfast, slated for Saturday, Sept. 18, citing rising coronavirus Delta variant infection rates.

“It is with a heavy heart that we made this decision. The MSU Billings Powwow and Alumni Breakfast brings us together to participate in dancing and singing and engage in complete cultural immersion. This event would have provided much-needed connection after such a difficult year,” said President & CEO Bill Kennedy. “But with an increasing number of COVID cases, we cannot safely proceed.”

The powwow, established over 50 years ago at Eastern Montana College, was canceled in 2020 and rescheduled in 2021 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kennedy said the Foundation, MSU Billings, and the Native American Achievement Center gave careful consideration to reporting provided by local healthcare agencies and that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Yellowjackets protect the hive. And we choose to protect our elders and the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Kennedy.

The Foundation hopes to host the Alumni Powwow Breakfast in spring 2022. Updates will be posted online at msubfoundation.com as they are available.

Contact Senior Development Officer Dyann Romeijn for more details.