POW WOW
The War Dance and the Roots of the POWWOW
Because warfare was so central to much of North American Indian cultures, a large body of ceremonial song and dance was associated with it.
When a victorious war party returned from battle, an elaborate rite of passage symbolizing re incorporation into the tribe and cleansing of contamination through contact with death and blood took place in the Victory or Scalp Dance (The Scalp Dance took place after the invasion of the white man since the first scalpers where the white due to the crave for war souvenirs as well as the collection of women's breast which were used by whites as pouches to keep their tobacco fresh). During this dance warriors would recount their exploits in song by performing songs with text commemorating details of the battle. These songs, together with the scalps affixed to long poles, would then be taken to other villages and "danced" with as well, as part of the general tribal celebration.
Nowadays POWWOWS are gatherings to celebrate almost anything and from there that you can see in many Indian Cars bumper stickers with the legend
"POW WOW IS AN INDIAN THING"
It is a fact: "You have to be an Indian to understand what a Pow Wow is all about"... in not so many words I could say that a Pow Wow is a gathering of people who bring their joy and happiness to a circle where others share the same feeling".
It is not our intention to talk much about what a Pow Wow is, if you like to know what is all about.. take time and visit us in a tribe and join in.
Like everything else in life, if you don't know ASK.
Certain rules apply as to the etiquette of dancers, visitors, guest, etc. so the best is to use your own judgment and ask the person next to you (please make sure you ask an Indian) and have fun. Bring your chair, your food - or better yet, eat some Indian Tacos and don't expect to find beer or alcohol there, and certainly NO DRUGS, just dance all day and listen to drums usually for three days.
The purpose of this page is to bring you a couple of samples of what Pow Wow Music and songs are all about and for you to listen to some real Pow Wow drumming.
FLAG SONG
(1.7 MB)At the conclusion of the Grand Entry, while the powowow dancers are still in the ring, the MC request singers to perform a Flag Song to honor the banners (colors) which veterans have brought into the circle. Flag Songs are characterized by their slow, stately drumbeat accompaniment.
The words you are listening are:
Tunkasilayapi tamokoce kin tewahila na blihemiciye yelo.
Tunkasilayapi tawapaha kin maka ihankeki kehan kini najin kte lo.(United States of America, the country I love. I am courageous. United States of America, its staff (flag) will always remain standing forever till the end of the world.)
As I mentioned before: A Pow Wow is an Indian Thing and during my travels I have encountered many people who can not understand why we sing to, and use the American Flag when this flag is the flag of our enemy. We do respect all the flags of the world and the American Flag is OUR flag, in our country, in our land and we will always treat our guest with respect until they feel is time for them to go back home.
Here is a Jewel given to me just recently:
During the World War II, a radio program entitled "Indians for Indians Hour" was broadcast over the University of Oklahoma radio station, WNAD, in Norman OK. Popular among the large number of Indian people living in the state, as many as 75,000 Indians listened to it weekly. Each week a different group of Southern Plains singers - Kiowa, Osage, Comanche, Wichita, etc. - was invited to perform traditional songs between announcements.
The present selection is in two parts:
1st; an introduction by the MC
2nd; A Veteran Song by the Kiowa War Mothers Chapter Singers of which my grandmother was a member and her voice can be heard in this selection.INTRO
(1.67 MB)KIOWA VETERANS SONG
(1.46 MB)If you want to know more about the Pow Wow trail and its different dances, customs, regalias etc. You can find many Indian Sites in the Iternet...
Thank you for taking the time to visit this page
Tdom Bah Toden Xkee
Photos courtesy of Gio de Carlo
