This year’s Head Female Dancer is Raven Dial-Stanley, and Head Male Dancer is Ryan Dial
- dscott839
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Serving as Emcees are the dynamic duo Marty Thurman and Sandon Jacobs. Patrick Green will oversee the circle as Arena Director, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Chris Conner joins us as Head Drum Judge, and Kevin Chavis will serve as Head Dance Judge, both bringing years of experience and cultural insight.
We are honored to welcome our Host Drums—The Boyz (Northern) and Southern Boyz (Southern)—whose songs will carry the heartbeat of the powwow all weekend.
—twin siblings, proud citizens of the Lumbee Tribe, and lifelong powwow dancers, introduced to the powwow circle at just six months old.
Raven Dial-Stanley, Head Female Dancer, whose roots run deep in the communities of Maxton and Prospect in Robeson County. Though now living in Durham, NC, her identity remains firmly grounded in the traditions of her people. Raven previously held the titles of Miss NCNAYO (2014–2015) and Miss Indian North Carolina (2018–2019), roles that strengthened her voice as a cultural ambassador. A graduate of UNC Greensboro, she studied Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies and went on to design denim for Lee. Today, Raven blends creativity and culture through her streetwear brand, Original Peoples of the Southeast, and a children's coloring book inspired by her grandmother. Raven also serves Native youth nationwide as a PK–12 Programs Officer with AISES, where she supports Indigenous students in STEM.
Ryan Dial, Head Male Dancer, is a proud citizen of the Lumbee Tribe, a lifelong powwow dancer and MC. Raised in Robeson County, he now lives in Durham, NC, with his wife, Idalis Jacobs Dial. Ryan works as an American Indian Health Program Manager at UNC Chapel Hill, serving both the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center and the American Indian Center. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on advancing health equity for Indigenous communities in North Carolina. Ryan has traveled across the state sharing Lumbee history and traditions through storytelling, music, and cultural education. His deep commitment to community and culture continues to uplift and empower Native people across generations.
Join us at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center as we celebrate our culture, honor our ancestors, and lift up our people. This will be a gathering you don’t want to miss!
#DanceOfTheHarvestMoon #LumbeePowwow2025 #LumbeePride #IndigenousExcellence #HeadStaffSpotlight #HonoringTradition
