PowwowPowwowA Pan-Indian CelebrationA Pan-Indian Celebration

By: Tina LoBy: Tina Lo

What is a Powwow?What is a Powwow? An American Indian inter-tribal An American Indian inter-tribal

gathering, focused on dancing, gathering, focused on dancing, singing, and family celebrationsinging, and family celebration

Native American people's way of Native American people's way of meeting together, visiting, meeting together, visiting, renewing old friendships and renewing old friendships and make new ones.make new ones.

A time to renew thought of the A time to renew thought of the old ways and to preserve a rich old ways and to preserve a rich heritage. heritage.

Origins/HistoryOrigins/History

Powwows today were largely influenced by Indians Powwows today were largely influenced by Indians of the Great Plains in the 1800s of the Great Plains in the 1800s

In the old days, Indians would gather at various times In the old days, Indians would gather at various times of the year to hunt, plant, gather, and celebrateof the year to hunt, plant, gather, and celebrate

Gather together to renew family, clan, and tribal tiesGather together to renew family, clan, and tribal ties Form social and political alliancesForm social and political alliances Celebrate victoriesCelebrate victories Practice religious and spiritual ceremoniesPractice religious and spiritual ceremonies Courtship and agreement on marriagesCourtship and agreement on marriages

Importance of Powwow in today’s Importance of Powwow in today’s culture: culture:

““The contemporary powwow provides an opportunity The contemporary powwow provides an opportunity for people to celebrate their identification with Indian for people to celebrate their identification with Indian culture and have become pan-Indian and inter-tribal culture and have become pan-Indian and inter-tribal expressions of pride.”expressions of pride.”

““Society has inaccurate images of American Indians, Society has inaccurate images of American Indians, thus Powwows help guide non-Indian people toward thus Powwows help guide non-Indian people toward understanding and appreciation of varied aspects of understanding and appreciation of varied aspects of Native American culture.” Native American culture.”

How is a Powwow organized?How is a Powwow organized? Held by one band or tribe to welcome and honor other bands Held by one band or tribe to welcome and honor other bands

or tribesor tribes

Organized by Powwow committee, dedicated members of host Organized by Powwow committee, dedicated members of host tribetribe

Usually three day weekend eventsUsually three day weekend events

All peoples are invited, Indian and non-IndianAll peoples are invited, Indian and non-Indian

Event is run by the Master of Ceremonies and Arena directorsEvent is run by the Master of Ceremonies and Arena directors

How is a Powwow organized (cont’d)How is a Powwow organized (cont’d)

Master of Ceremonies provides the announcements Master of Ceremonies provides the announcements and background information on the dances, rituals, and background information on the dances, rituals, and spirit of the Powwowand spirit of the Powwow

Arena directors manages the flow of activity in the Arena directors manages the flow of activity in the arena and organizes the dancers and drummers. arena and organizes the dancers and drummers.

Judges are responsible for judging regalia, dancing, Judges are responsible for judging regalia, dancing, and drumming and drumming

Types of PowwowsTypes of Powwows

Several different typesSeveral different types

2 most common types are:2 most common types are:

Traditional PowwowsTraditional Powwows

Competition PowwowsCompetition Powwows

Traditional PowwowsTraditional Powwows

Everyone who participates in dancing or Everyone who participates in dancing or singing is awarded day moneysinging is awarded day money

Informal but has some degree of competitionInformal but has some degree of competition

Also contains ceremonies such as honorings, Also contains ceremonies such as honorings, giveaways, “first” dances, and adoptionsgiveaways, “first” dances, and adoptions

Competition PowwowsCompetition Powwows

Has significant prize money for dancersHas significant prize money for dancers

Everyone can participate in competition but Everyone can participate in competition but only the dancers that place at the top of the only the dancers that place at the top of the competition wins the prize moneycompetition wins the prize money

Drum groups can also compete for prize Drum groups can also compete for prize money money

The Grand EntryThe Grand Entry Powwow begins with the Grand EntryPowwow begins with the Grand Entry

Spectators are asked to rise as the flags and eagle Spectators are asked to rise as the flags and eagle staffs of host and guest tribes are brought in the arenastaffs of host and guest tribes are brought in the arena

Eagle staffs and flags represent nations, families, and Eagle staffs and flags represent nations, families, and communitiescommunities

Drums begin the Grand Entry song with chief/tribal Drums begin the Grand Entry song with chief/tribal leader of host tribe and visiting leaders entering the leader of host tribe and visiting leaders entering the arena, leading a processionarena, leading a procession

The Grand Entry (cont’d)The Grand Entry (cont’d)

The Procession consists of :The Procession consists of : Honored members and color guard of veterans Honored members and color guard of veterans Elected royalty, chosen to represent their Elected royalty, chosen to represent their

communitycommunity Male dancersMale dancers Female dancersFemale dancers Teenage boysTeenage boys Teenage girlsTeenage girls Young kidsYoung kids

The Grand Entry (cont’d)The Grand Entry (cont’d)

Procession goes into circles until all the dancers are Procession goes into circles until all the dancers are inside the arenainside the arena

Drumming ends when arena is filled with all the Drumming ends when arena is filled with all the dancers dancing in their grand regaliadancers dancing in their grand regalia

Ends with dancers in the center of circle, followed by Ends with dancers in the center of circle, followed by prayer song and a honoring song for veteransprayer song and a honoring song for veterans

Judging of regalia, dancers, drummers begin after Judging of regalia, dancers, drummers begin after

Important Aspects of a PowwowImportant Aspects of a Powwow

Community, Family, Community, Family, and Spiritualityand Spirituality

VeteransVeterans The DrumThe Drum SongsSongs DancesDances RegaliaRegalia

Powwow EtiquettePowwow Etiquette

Bring your own seating or you can standBring your own seating or you can stand

Do not sit on benches around arena-reserved for Do not sit on benches around arena-reserved for dancersdancers

Ask permission before taking pictures of dancersAsk permission before taking pictures of dancers

Donate money to the drum during Blanket DanceDonate money to the drum during Blanket Dance

Powwow Etiquette (cont’d)Powwow Etiquette (cont’d)

Always stand during special songsAlways stand during special songs

Always listen to the MC (Master of Always listen to the MC (Master of Ceremonies)-they give you all the Ceremonies)-they give you all the information!information!

Remember that you are a guest and that you Remember that you are a guest and that you are welcomedare welcomed

Additional TipsAdditional Tips Be respectful and friendlyBe respectful and friendly

Go with an open mindGo with an open mind

Do not be afraid to ask questions (The Arena Director Do not be afraid to ask questions (The Arena Director or MC are great people to ask!)or MC are great people to ask!)

Sobriety is important!Sobriety is important!

Most importantly is to have fun and interact! Most importantly is to have fun and interact!

READ ME : ) READ ME : )

““We don’t want your rations, we want this We don’t want your rations, we want this dance” By: Clyde Ellisdance” By: Clyde Ellis

-shows evolution of this important -shows evolution of this important cultural cultural formform

-importance of song and dance in Indian -importance of song and dance in Indian cultural identitycultural identity

-discusses Indian ethnocide-discusses Indian ethnocide

Links/ReferencesLinks/References

http://www.csulb.edu/~aisstudy/powwow/http://www.csulb.edu/~aisstudy/powwow/

http://www.ewebtribe.com/NACulture/powwows.htmhttp://www.ewebtribe.com/NACulture/powwows.htm

http://www.tpt.org/powwow/index.htmlhttp://www.tpt.org/powwow/index.html

http://www.powwows.com/http://www.powwows.com/

http://spirit.dos.uci.edu/aisa/Welcome.htmhttp://spirit.dos.uci.edu/aisa/Welcome.htm