In 1867, history was made near Medicine Lodge when the Peace Commission of the United States and the five tribes of the Plains Indians signed the Medicine Lodge Treaty, which intended to establish peace between the Native Americans and the Europeans settling in the area.

Every fall, the city of Medicine Lodge pays tribute to its past during the Peace Treaty Indian Summer Days event. This annual event includes the Peace Treaty Powwow, the Kansas Championship Ranch Rodeo and the Historical Night Show. This year, the celebration will take place Sept. 23–25. “The Peace Treaty events honor and celebrate our wonderful town’s rich history,” says Joscelyn Nittler, Second Vice President of the Peace Treaty Association. “Medicine Lodge comes to life each September with historical reenactments, crafts, food vendors, kids' events, a ranch rodeo, street dance and so much more.”

You’ll feel as though you have stepped back in time while attending the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Powwow. “It’s an experience everyone should have,” says David Colborn, chairperson for the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Powwow event. “The sound of the drum and singing as well as the colorful and heartfelt dancing is an unforgettable experience that will give a person goosebumps.”

Several traditional dances take place during the Powwow, including the Gourd Dance, Round Dance, Buffalo Dance, Chicken Dance, War Dance and Flag Dance. Along with the intertribal dancing, a competition will be held throughout the weekend. The dance contest categories include Fancy, Traditional/Grass and Straight for men; Cloth, Buckskin and Fancy/Jingle for women; as well as contests for the Golden Age (55+) and youth (8–17) age groups. Contestants will compete against each other for a chance at additional prize money.

While you're soaking in the Powwow experience, don’t forget to check out the various Native American food and craft vendors placed around the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Powwow Arena. Crafts will include authentic silver and turquoise jewelry, beaded jewelry, original paintings and other various authentic crafts. The Powwow is free and open to the public, and is a great family friendly event.

The annual Kansas Championship Ranch Rodeo will also take place during the weekend festival Sept. 23 and 24. Witness teams of real cowboys competing in events like bronc riding, calf branding, cattle doctoring, team penning, wild cow milking and more. “The Ranch Rodeo is fun for the attendees, who get to see real cowboys compete in events that test their everyday ranch skills,” says Carl Jarboe, President of the Ranch Rodeo Committee. “A lot of hard work happens on the contestants’ ranches and we like to award them for their capabilities.” The Rodeo, sanctioned by the Working Ranch Cowboys Association, costs $10 for adults. Children 14 and under can attend for free.

While events like the Powwow and Ranch Rodeo occur annually, some of the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty events occur every three years. The Peace Treaty Pageant — an impressive display of 300 years of history set against a panoramic backdrop of the Red Hills and the Kansas sky — is performed in a natural amphitheater near the original place of the signing.

Visit Medicine Lodge again in September 2018 to embrace the cowboy and Indian era of America’s history.

For more information on the Peace Treaty events, visit www.peacetreaty.org.