THE POW WOW The Pow Wow is one of the American Indian ceremonies open to the public. The Algonquin's called these meetings the Pau Wau, and they were originally meetings of Medicine Men who sought to cure those who were ill. American colonists came to call any Native American gathering a Pow Wow, and today the Pow Wow is used as an opportunity to expose others to Native American culture. The Pow Wow always begins with a series of drummings and songs, and then a procession of dancers appears. These dancers in the old days imitated the movements of Medicine or Totem Animals, to invoke their power into the circle. Since the end of World War II, the procession of dancers has always been preceded by an honor guard to commemorate the veterans. Often, there are a large number of Native American vendors at Pow Wows.
POW WOW 1. Bring your own seating when attending Pow Wows. The arena chairs or benches are reserved for the dancers dressed in dance regalia and their families. Any blankets placed in the arena on benches mark the spot of the dancers. Please don't sit on someone's blanket unless invited. If you are not dancing, you may bring chairs and sit outside of the arena. Lawn chairs are the most common way of solving this.Etiquette for Visitors and Newcomers
By Chief Winterhawk2. Listen to the Master of Ceremonies. He will announce who is to dance, the dance step, and when to dance. He will give all of the information you need, as well as entertain you and keep you posted on news. Any questions you have can be answered by him.
3.Donate money to the Drum. This is done during a blanket dance, when a blanket will be laid out on the ground and a song or songs will be sung. It is customary to place a dollar bill (or more if you wish) on the blanket and dance the rest of that song, regardless of if you are dressed or not. If you don't want to dance, you should ask a dancer to place the money on the drum for you. The drum has probably traveled a great distance to give you the beautiful songs you hear, and count on this to help pay their expenses.
4. Always stand during special songs. This includes Grand Entry, Flag Songs, Veteran Songs, Memorial Songs, Prayer Songs, or any other song that the M.C. designates. It is also customary to remove any hats that you have on for the duration of that song.
5. The dance arena is for those participating in the dance. It has been blessed and should be considered sacred.
6. Photographs should be taken only with the permission of the individual subject. You are welcome to take group pictures without anyone's permission. Please remember to be courteous. If you have any questions, please ask.
7, All persons not in regalia are asked that legs be covered before entering the dance arena.
Although celebration is an integral element of Native American culture, the Pow Wow is a relatively recent development. Pow Wows started out about 50 or 60 years ago, following the Reservation Period, when our people were spread out across the country, with many of them living in isolation in urban areas. The Pow Wows gave those isolated Native Americans a chance to come together to share their "Indianness."
The spiritual component of the event is evident in the blessing of the dance arena, the invocation at the Grand Entry and the reverence shown sacred objects like eagle feathers. The singing style demonstrated at Pow Wows came about during the Reservation Period. Before that time songs were sung in specific languages. But during the Reservation Period, our people were moved about a lot, and different tribes from different locales would come into close contact. To circumvent the language barriers, the singing evolved into chants, using common sounds, or "vocables," allowing people with different languages to communicate through song.
Each day the Pow Wow dancing will open with the Grand Entry, when all the participants in (Indian Garb) full regalia - follow the head staff and the flag bearers into the dance arena. In addition to intertribal, exhibition and contest dancing following the grand entry, honor dances - during which people are recognized for their contributions to the community or special deeds - will take place.
The Giveaway And often following an honor dance, a giveaway will occur, in which the recipient of the recognition gives gifts to those who helped him or her along their way. Sometimes the honoree will present a gift to unknown audience members. The giveaway is unique to our culture in that the person being recognized - instead of receiving gifts - gives them away. Since the days before the arrival of Europeans, Native Americans have had a sense of generosity that is unique among all cultures. Since that time, this generosity has developed into the giveaway, a ceremony where a person, family or organization is honored and in return gives away many gifts to their friends and the staff of pow wows. This begins with a special song sung by the drum for the particular person or people honored, usually a family song that was composed for that family. The person or people and their friends then slowly dance around the circle, and people in attendance who feel so moved are allowed to give the people a small gift and then join the "procession."
Quitting Songs It is custom at the end of a Pow Wow to close the dance with a quitting song. This is a slower song and it is given respect. All should rise when a quitting song is sung, and not talk or try to leave. This is a custom from long ago that should be respected.
Terms Used at the Pow Wow All Pow-Wows have these. They keep the event going, announcing events, explaining exhibition dances, telling jokes, calling for lost parents, seeking owners of lost items.Announcers, Masters of Ceremonies
Arena Directors Usually honored dancers who keep track of drum order and dance contests and help coordinate contest events.
Fry Bread Bread dough fried in hot fat and served with honey and butter; powerfully fattening and delicious. The recipe varies.
Grand Entry The parade of dancers that leads off each session of the Pow-Wow. Contestants numbers are recorded and they receive points for participation.
Giveaway Distribution of goods by a family to friends, relatives, and visitors in honor of a person or event; for example to memorialize someone's death, for a naming ceremony or an adoption. Goods range from blankets to foodstuffs to horses covered with money. The giveaway is preceded by an honor song.
Indian Taco Bread served with beans, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and onions. Good stuff!!!
Indian Flag A staff, spiritual in nature, covered in fur and hung with eagle feathers, which represents Indianess and/or a tribe, carried with honor by a veteran in the opening ceremonies.
Indian Time The time all Pow Wows run on. Schedules are set, but are flexible, and attempts are made to adhere to them strictly but due to the informal nature of large gatherings, times are approximate. Things start when they start and end when they end.
Pow Wow Circuit Similar to a rodeo circuit, and entire families travel them from Memorial Day to Labor Day. People traveling the circuit consist of dancers, singers, gamblers, rodeo riders, announcers, and concessionaires. The circuit can be addictive, and is a wonderful opportunity to meet people and learn.
Singer/Drum Group The music of the Pow Wow circuit, each usually includes five to ten members (and sometimes entire families), with a lead singer and others who can "second" repeat the lead line with melody on a different or similar key). Dancers key their movements to the melody of the song, their footwork keeping time to the drumbeat. Singers have a variety of song styles they offer in order to allow dancers to show off their style. Songs include trick songs, fast and slow grass dance songs, shake songs, crow hops, and sneak ups. Song structure consists of chorus and verse, some using real words and others using vocals. Certain groups are known for their quality, and the dancers will honor these drum groups by shistling for them to repeat a song. Songs are passed on by oral tradition.
The Head People To be selected as one of the "Head People" is a high honor. The Head People are selected not only for ability but also for personal qualities, actions and how they treat other people.
Head Man and Head Lady Dancers This is also a high honor. These two dancers guide and direct the dancers throughout the Pow Wow. They are the first to begin dancing in each song. Other dancers wait in respect until the head man and head lady begin dancing.
Head Singer This is another high honor. The head singer must know all the songs to be sung. The head singer is selected to lead the singing. The head singer either starts the drumming / singing or selects another "lead" singer to begin the song. All other singers/drummers must wait for the signal for them to join in.The dance arena may be inside or outside, but must be large enough to accommodate all participants and observers. It is blessed before the Pow Wow begins and is considered sacred ground for the duration of the celebration. Frequently, there are bleachers for spectators to sit on or people may bring lawn chairs. The front seats of the Arbor are for the dancers, singers, and their families. Elders are also given preferred places to sit. Running and playing within the dance arena is not allowed, nor is it proper for spectators to cross the Arbor during the Pow Wow. However, if you enter the circle, you always walk in a clockwise direction.
The drum is much more than a musical instrument to the Indian. It is sacred. It is a very special tie to the traditional Indian way of life. It should be cared for in a certain prescribed manner. All singers must know the strict and exacting protocol to be observed while seated at the drum. You may note that singers observe strict drum etiquette. The drum sets the rhythm of the dance and the tempo of the song. There are two types of drums used at most Pow wows. One is a traditional drum, made by stretching hides over a frame and lacing the hides together with rawhide thongs. The other kind is more common, a regular band bass drum. Both drums are accorded the highest respect by all tribes as a most important part of any Pow Wow.
War Dance There are many types of war dances. In early times, the ceremonial dance called "haylushka" was restricted to warriors, and only the best dancers were chosen to participate. Today, the war dance is a victory dance among the Plains Indians. It is purely social and is enjoyed by all who chose to participate. It is a dignified dance, rather than a violent dance as is commonly supposed.
Round Dance This is a social dance. Dancers move in rows of circles clockwise around the drum in a side-step, with the faster moving line in the middle close to the drum and the slower toward the outside, away from the drum. The entire line moves as one body, each in harmony to the rhythm of the drum.
Rabbit Dance / Two Step These are two of the few dances where men and women dance as partners. The "Rabbit Dance" comes from the northern tribes such as the Sioux. The "Two Step" is an addition to the "Rabbit Dance". Women choose their partners. Couples, holding hands, circle the drum, stepping off with the left foot and dragging the right up with it in time to loud-soft drum beats. In early days, if a man refused to dance, he had to "pay" (money or craft gift) to the asker.
Snake Dance A social dance - the "Snake Dance" is just what the name implies. Dancers follow each other in a single line, moving in and out in a snake like manner. The line of dancers describes the journey of a large snake through the forest and up the mountains, coiling up for a rest - uncoiling and traveling on. The "snake" comes to a river - section after section he crosses, down to the last, smallest tail dancer.
Flag Song In recent years, nearly every tribe has composed a flag song, dedicated to the men and women who have served in the armed forces in various wars. The flag songs are the Indian equivalent of the National Anthem; all stand as the song is sung. There is no dancing to this song, but all stand in respect. (Certain women whose father, brother or son is a combat veteran may traditionally dance in peace.) The Flag Song is sung at the beginning of most Indian activities.
Honor Song Honor songs are special songs sung to honor a particular person or persons. It is customary to stand in silence to show respect when an honor song is sung. Honor songs are always announced before they are sung at Pow Wows.
Intertribals Includes all dance styles in any "everyone dance" situation, all ages and genders. The announcer will usually say, "Let's everyone dance, all you dancers get out there!"
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