Mike Clark | Photojournalist

Donald Gann from the Grand Traverse Band Ottawa at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. "It's important for me, for my health and welfare, for my sobriety, to demonstrate that we are a valid part of this region still," Gann said. "This area that my grandparents came from and that I am from...we are a loving, giving, working, productive part of...we are still here"

Doreece Mandoka from the Huron Potawatomi tribe at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Mandoka has been studying the Potawatomi language Bodewadmimwen for the past twelve years. "This language was taken away from my grandmother when she was my age so now that she has passed I live in her honor by studying this language," Mandoka said. "There is a lot of sacredness involved with our [language] that can not really be interpreted in English."

Vyana, who goes by one name, from the Wyandot and Seneca tribes at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. "I come as a healer to work with people that are suffering and to honor the people that are happy," Vyana said.

Travis Schuyler from the Oneida and Ojibwe tribes at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. "This is a way of life for us we've been doing this for thousands of years and it continues on," Schuyler said. "So i think these functions in general are extremely important to who we are as native people."

Jessica Foster with her daughter Chenoa Foster, 3, from the Cherokee tribe at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. "It's important to me because I always grew up my entire life knowing that I was native but not being taught any of the culture and I really want my kids to learn the culture and be proud of who they are," Jessica Foster said.

Steve Perry at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. "It's an opportunity for the younger people to learn the old traditions and for the older people to celebrate the traditions," Perry said. "It's a way of showing the kids to be proud of who they are."

Mijiikwis Wabanimkee, 14, from the Grand Traverse Band of Odawa and Ojibwe and Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. "It shows that I am native and that I represent the culture and I represent myself as part of the culture," Wabanimkee said.

Annabelle Wilson, 5, from the Ojibwe tribe at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

Angelo Franchi from the Grand Traverse Band at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. "The pow wow itself is kind of a celebration, to get together with all my friends and family," Franchi said. "Also it gives me a chance to dance for the people who can't be here, for the ones who've walked on or the ones who are sick or the ones who couldn't make the journey here."

Waaba Medawis at the Celebrating All Walks of Life Traditional Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. on Sunday, April 9, 2017. "My dad drums and i'm a dancer," Medawis said. "I like it because we all get together, all my family comes here."