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Native Americans
Native Americans have been an integral component of the Pendleton Round-Up since its inception.
Members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation - the Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla Indians who live on a reservation eight miles east of Pendleton -host a grand tribal village that annually includes more than 300 teepees. Indians from around the Northwest travel to Pendleton where they gather in the village to visit with friends and relatives, take part in the Happy Canyon Pageant and dance in the arena during rodeo matinees.
Additionally, the Round-Up serves as the forum for two Indian beauty contests - the American Indian Beauty Contest, which is held Friday morning prior to the Westward Ho! parade on Main Street in Pendleton, and the Junior Indian Beauty Contest, held Thursday morning at the Roy Raley Park adjacent to the Round-Up grounds.
Another key event during the week is a Round-Up Pow Wow dance competition, which occurs at 9 a. m. on Saturday in the Round-Up arena. Winners receive prized blankets made by Pendleton Woolen Mills. The dances held on Saturday morning are in memory of Clarence Bishop, founder of Pendleton Woolen Mills.
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