Giveaways take place across the northern Plains during summer powwow season. Within a family, life transitions—birth, marriage, great achievements, and death— are acknowledged to the tribal community by having a public giveaway ceremony. Families spend many months making or ordering star quilts and amassing other goods in preparation for a giveaway ceremony.

At a powwow, a giveaway ceremony begins with the family circling around the arena and making a pile of goods at the front with several star quilts on the top of the pile. An announcer calls a name over the public address system. This person comes forward and a star quilt is wrapped around the recipient’s shoulders. It is an honor to receive a star quilt, but a greater honor to have one given away in your name.