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WHAT IS POWWOW
Pow Wows are
social gatherings of hundreds of Native Americans who follow dances
started centuries ago by their ancestors and that continually evolve
to include contemporary aspects. These events of feasting, drum
music and dance are attended by Natives and non-Natives, all of whom
join in the dancing and take advantage of the opportunity to see old
friends and teach the traditional ways to a younger generation.
Pow Wows have deep historical roots, going back to the
early to mid-19th century when huge summer gatherings of tribes were
held on the plains, according to Richard West, Director of the
National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) . The Heluska society
of the Omaha in Nebraska had a certain dance with a lively step that
it would perform, and other tribes began to notice it. As the
concept spread, tribes embraced the tradition of dancing and singing
in different ways, adding their own variations. The roots of modern
Pow Wows date back 50 to 70 years. From the small gatherings held on
college campuses to large urban areas, today's powwows are
contemporary intertribal versions of those 19th-century Pow Wows.
They also serve to unite Indians. "One of the things
the federal government did in the dog days of adverse Indian policy
was to separate us Indian communities from one another," says West,
Director of the NMAI. "Pow Wows are a powerful contemporary device
for getting together as Indians; and, in that respect, they are a
potent cultural and social connector among contemporary Indian
communities."
For non-Natives with limited exposure to American
Indian culture, public events like the Pow Wow not only serve to
dispel stereotypes, they provide the larger community with a chance
to experience an American Indian gathering firsthand and to gain an
understanding of Native cultures and traditions. |
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PARTS OF THE POWWOW
Each Pow Wow begins with the Grand Entry, which is a
procession of all the dancers into the dance arena. This brilliant
sea of color is led by the Head Man and Woman Dancers, as well as an
American Indian military veteran color guard carrying the American
flag, and various flags of tribal nations.
One of the most important things
in the life of a Native American is the drum. Our whole
culture centers around the drum. Without the drum and the singers,
the Native Americans could not have Pow Wows. The drum brings the
heartbeat of our Earth Mother to the Pow Wow for all to feel and
hear. Drumming brings everyone back into balance. Whether dancing,
singing, or just listening, people around the drum can connect with
Spirit.
Songs are started with a lead
line sung by the Head Singer. This lets the drum and the
dancers know what song is coming. After the lead line, the second
(another person at the drum) will take up the lead line, and
everyone will join in with him. At this point the dancers begin to
dance. The loud beats during the songs, sometimes called "Honor
Beats" are a time for dancers to honor the drum. In Northern
singing, these beats are generally during the verses. In Southern
singing, the beats are generally between verses.
Some additional things to remember are 1) Liquor is never permitted
at the drum
2) Women, usually do not sit at the drum and beat the drum, if women sing,
they may sit in the second row behind the men singers.
At a Pow Wow
the drums are led by at least one “host drum” which showcases
its distinct style of singing (either Northern or Southern) and
represent the best example of that style. The drum contest will
highlight groups of 10 to 12 members each who frequently come from
the same family and sing traditional songs that often have been
written by family members and are handed down from one generation to
the next.
Women's Traditional Dance can be
broken into to groups according to the type of regalia: buckskin and
cloth. The oldest form of women's dance style, is Buckskin. This is
a dance of elegance and grace. The movement is smooth and flowing.
The ladies wear fine, handcrafted buckskin dresses, decorated with
intricate bead designs. Northern dresses are fully beaded on the
shoulders, or cape. Southern ones, the beadwork is mainly used to
accent. They are equally beautiful. The women carry fringed shawls
over one arm. Ladies Cloth is a Southern Traditional form of women's
dress. This style is dance by the Kiowas, Osage, Ponca, and others.
The dance is slow and graceful, much like the Women's Buckskin
style. In either case, much like the Men's Traditional Dance, there
are many tribal and regional differences in the outfitting of this
women's style.
The Men's
Northern Traditional Dance
is a popular Northern style of dress and dance the traditional
style, evolved from the well-known "old time Sioux" style of the
early reservation period through the 1940's. Although a clear
distinction exists, one can see an obvious connection to the
old-time Sioux Outfit, with the dancer drawing from this earlier
style various elements to which he either adheres to or uses as a
basis for his own interpretation. Therefore this form of dancing
that has evolved over the years, is the oldest form of Native
American dancing. The movement in this style is one that is
sometimes characterized as similar to a prairie chicken. The dancer
is also said to be re-enacting the movement of a warrior searching
for the enemy.
Men’s Southern Traditional, often
called the Straight Dance, from Oklahoma is a formal,
tailored, prestigious form of Southern dance clothes. The overall
effect is of reassuring solidity, with everything closely matched
and coordinated. It looks as if it is planned all at one time. This
dance has evolved from the Hethuska dances. It is believed that the
Ponca created this style. The Hethuska are dances held by different
societies. There are a lot of clothes to wear in the outfit, and
accordingly the dance is slow and proud. The art of Straight dancing
is in the little, sometimes unnoticed things, both in the movement
and the outfit. Smoothness, precision with the song, knowledge of
dance etiquette, and a powerful sense of pride mark the outstanding
straight dancer.
The Oklahoma Feather Dancer or
"fancy dancer" is one of the most popular style of dance and
outfit seen at modern powwows. The fancy dance outfit, as such, has
no tribal identity. The most obvious items in the fancy dance outfit
are great amounts of loom-beaded sets of suspenders, belt cuffs,
headband, and a set of armbands. The designs are usually matching in
all items and of a rainbow feather or geometric design. Beaded
medallions are on the forehead and bustles are also quite common.
Occasionally a breastplate will be used in place of the beaded
suspenders or in conjunction with them. The other trademark for
fancy dancers is the use of large feather bustles. Currently most
bustles are color-coordinated with the beadwork by using large
amounts of feather hackles dyed the appropriate colors. The dance
style is of two types: a basic simple step while dancing around the
drum and a "contest" step with fast and intricate footwork combined
with a spinning up and down movement of the body.
Women’s Fancy Shawl is the
newest form of women's dance, and is quite athletic! Fancy Shawl is
often called Northern Shawl, as it does come form the Northern
tribes along the US-Canadian border. This is very similar in dancing
and the bright colors to the Men's Fancy Dance. The ladies wear
their shawls over their shoulders, and dance by jumping and spinning
around, keeping time with the music. They mimic butterflies in
flight, and the dance style is quite graceful and light. Emphasis is
paid particularly to the shawls, with elaborate designs, appliqué,
ribbon work, and painting. Long fringe hangs from the edges of the
shawl, and flies round.
Jingle Dress is also called a
prayer dress. There are differences in the origins of the
dress among the tribes. The dress was seen in a dream, as an object
to bring healing to afflicted people. It comes from the Northern
tribe Ojibwa, or Chippewa, along the Canadian border. A medicine
man's granddaughter became very ill one day. In a dream, his spirit
guides told him to make a jingle dress for her and have her dance in
it. This, he was told would heal her. When the outfit was finished,
the tribe assembled for a dance. On her first time around, the
illness would not permit her to dance and she was carried. As time
went on she was soon dancing in the circle. Jingle dresses are
decorated with rolled up snuff can lids that are hung with ribbon.
The ribbon is then sewed to the dress, the jingles placed close
enough so they can hit together, causing a beautiful sound. If one
were to close their eyes as the Jingle dancer passes, it would sound
as though it were raining!
The Grass Dance is a very
popular style of dance today. Originally done as a warrior society
dance, it has evolved over the years. It has further evolved into a
highly competitive form of Northern dancing. Grass Dancing always
stands out by virtue of two things: his dancing style and his
outfit. His dancing has been described often by the words ‘gutsy’,
‘swinging’, ‘slick’, and ‘old-time.’ His outfit stands out by virtue
of the almost complete absence of feathers, for aside from the roach
feather, there are no bustles of any kind to be seen. The name
"Grass Dance" comes from the custom of some tribes wearing braided
grass in their belts. The unique parts of the northern outfit are
the shirt, trousers, and aprons, to which yarn fringe, sequins, and
beaded rosettes other designs are attached. The outfit makers are
fond of using playing card designs-hearts, clubs, spades, and
diamonds. Hearts and rosettes are the most common. White fringe is
preferred, however, gold, silver, and other light color fringe is
also used. Bells are worn around the ankle. Mostly plains hard-soled
or woodland soft-sole moccasins, and sneakers are worn.
Tiny Tots (5 and under)
are honored as the future of our culture. As such, at many events
they are not judged in a competition, as it is not wished to
discourage the future of the circle from participating. The emphasis
is placed on ensuring these youngsters enjoy their time in the
circle and learn from being in the company of the older dancers and
singers. Parents decide what style of regalia in which to cloth the
young ones and they are encouraged by the parents, family members,
and everyone at the powwow, to dance their best and watch the other
dancers, while also learning the proper etiquette and customs from
their elders.
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