Unique to Native Americans and Canadian First Nations people, a pow-wow is a vibrant celebratory gathering during which family, friends, and community come together to share in cultural traditions.
Have you ever heard of a pow-wow?
Unique to Native Americans and Canadian First Nations people, a pow-wow is a vibrant celebratory gathering during which family, friends, and community come together to share in cultural traditions.
Either practiced by a single tribe or as a larger intertribal event, a pow-wow celebrates native spirituality, heritage, and unity, honors ancestors, and enables participants to tangibly connect with their cultural identity. These celebrations are characterized by dancing, singing, and drumming.
When Did Pow-wows Originate?
“Pow-wow”, also known as powwow and pow wow, comes from the Narragansett (a northeastern Algonquin coastal tribe) word powwaw, which means “spiritual leader”.
There are different theories and stories about how pow-wow gatherings began, and some believe they originated with public dances of the Great Plains Tribes, particularly the Southern Plains Tribes’ War Dance Societies.
(A war dance references tribal warrior societies through mock combat in dance. These dances are myriad and diverse, and not exclusive to Native Americans; there are war dances performed all over the world, from the Maori Haka to the Hawaiian Ha’a Koa, the Scottish sword dances to the Indlamu of the Zulu people in Africa.)
In 1923, the US government restricted the times of year that Native Americans could practice their traditional dances (deeming these activities a direct threat to Christianity). Many native communities, however, actively defied these orders and gathered secretly to practice their cultural dance and music on their own terms.
Which Tribes Hold Pow-wows?
Many groups practice the pow-wow, particularly the Plains Indians, Woodland Tribes (Eastern), and Pacific Coastal Nations. There are thousands of pow-wows held every year throughout the USA (as well as throughout Canada).
Types of Pow-wow
Tribal pow-wows may be public or private. If religious in nature, they will almost exclusively be closed to anyone outside the tribe – this includes naming and honoring ceremonies. Intertribal pow-wows are social or competitive public and usually open events.
v Traditional pow-wows strive to showcase and preserve traditional customs, dancing, and regalia.
v Social pow-wows emphasize community: healing, bonding, and sharing via storytelling, music, and dance.
v Competitive pow-wows see dancers compete for recognition and prizes.
Pow-wows Today
Modern pow-wows, especially inter-tribal events, are meticulously organized by a council over several months.
A Grand Entry Parade may be held. There is always a Grand Entry, and flags carried by veterans are brought into the arena (usually the US flag, Tribal flags, the POW flag, and others). Important guests include veterans, Tribal Chiefs, Tribal Princesses, Tribal Elders, and event organizers. Male and female dancers follow.
Singing and drumming are extremely important in a pow-wow, and songs may have religious, war, or social themes. Songs may be sung in traditional languages and are either old or newly composed songs. Some songs are sung without words but with “vocables”, which are meaningful sounds that allow members of other tribes (and who speak other languages) to join in.
Dance is intrinsic to Native American culture and the main focus of a pow-wow, and most pow-wow dances today are social in nature. Dancing in a circle represents life’s cycle and eternal connection to all things. Dancers usually move clockwise to follow the sun’s direction; some dances have male performers, some have female performers.
Dancers wear the vibrant regalia of their tribes – elaborate leatherwork, beadwork, jewelry, feathers, headdresses, and more. This clothing is more than a costume; it is handcrafted and deeply meaningful both spiritually and culturally; it is a representative point of heritage, identity, and pride.
Not only does the pow-wow provide social opportunities to participate in and pass on cultural traditions, but it is also an opportunity for skilled Native artisans to display and sell their hand-made goods, such as Native American turquoise jewelry, Native American blankets, baskets, pottery, apparel, and more.
Other pow-wow activities may include singing or dancing contests, “pow-wow princess” pageants, stick games, horse races, parades, feasting, encampments, and more.
Thousands of pow-wows are held annually across the USA and Canada. Each is its own entity; some are tribally arranged, others are casino-sponsored.
You don’t need to be Native American to attend a pow-wow! Many, if not most - especially intertribal pow-wows - are open to the public, and these are welcoming family events – but check beforehand.
If attending a pow-wow as a non-Native, you must be respectful at all times and follow etiquette:
v Be respectful, courteous, and kind at all times.
v Ask before taking photographs of dancers, drummers, singers, and ceremonies.
v Never touch regalia or hair without permission.
v Stand and remove hats during the Flag Song.
v Defer to Elders.
v No alcohol, drugs, or firearms are permitted at a pow-wow.
v Do not pick up any piece of regalia from the ground – notify a pow-wow committee member if something has been dropped.
v Pay attention to the MC’s instructions.
v Do not speak when an Elder is speaking.
v Do not let children run amok or play during dances, or run through the dances.
v Chairs provided around the arena are for Elders and the dancers only – please bring your own seating.
v Ask the people around you to explain what’s happening if you wish to – this is a time for Native Americans to proudly share their culture, and most will be very eager to do so.
v Support Native artisans by visiting their stalls.
Have you ever attended a pow-wow? We’d love to hear about it!