Black Otter Trading Post

Originally it is said that Pow Wow was a gathering of medicine men and spiritual leaders. During the 1800′s, though, non-Indian people began using the term to describe any gathering of Native American people. Eventually Pow Wow was the accepted term

No one knows for certain when pow wows began. It is believed to have begun approximately four hundred years ago in an Omaha tribe when warriors, who had a good journey, performed a war dance to commemorate their pride in their good medicine and also to celebrate their place in their clan and their family. Pow wows are based on pride.

The actual pow wow celebration, as it is known today, is not written in any record due to the ban of all Native American dances by both the United States and Canadian governments. It is believed to have begun in the 1800′s in Montana on the Fourth of July as it would be more difficult for The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to break up a celebration on this day.

Originally the pow wow began with the Plains Indians and simply spread to the other tribes. It is a celebration of the circle of life, having no end and no beginning. These were originally dances during seasonal changes, but as more non-native people began to be involved the dances began to be changed.

The dance arena is called the arbor. There are both inside-arbor and outside-arbor festivities at a pow wow. Dance contests, intertribal dancing and exhibition dancing are all done inside the arena. There are frequently parades and rodeos outside the arena. There are four main styles of dancing, Fancy, Traditional, Grass and Jingle-Dress. The many original war dances have been evolved into one general dance style. Women began being involved in the dancing as more than singers in the 1950′s.

There is a covered area to provide shade for the drummers and contestants while they wait. Usually there are covered areas for all spectators and you will find them sitting on blankets or chairs behind the participants. Vendors selling arts, crafts, and food are back even farther out of respect.

Be prepared should you choose to attend one, they do have modern characteristics such as sound systems and the dancers all have numbers attached to their regalia. Be respectful should you choose to attend, do not go out on the arbor after it has been blessed, do not touch dancers’ regalia (it is never called a costume), and always pay attention to the MC. There are times when photographs are absolutely not allowed, and you must know this. He will keep you informed of all events and rules as the day progresses. Just be respectful and ask questions if necessary. It is better to ask a silly question than to be disrespectful. Last, but not least, no alcohol or drugs are permitted at any pow wow.

A pow wow is an opportunity to make new friends and catch up with old ones. They are public events that spread cultural awareness in a positive manner. Many pow wows are intertribal and allow for many more dancers to compete and offers the non-Native people a chance to see more than just one tribe thereby learning more than just one culture. Many pow wows are performed in the spring and summer, but there are still a great many performed in the winter, even at Christmas.

Today’s pow wows are a still a celebration. They are a celebration of who they are. It means that they have a beautiful, unique culture that must not be forgotten. It shows a rich history that deserves to be remembered. Pow wows are a celebration of all of this and the willingness to share so others may learn.

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Our thoughts ride the wind… Nick and Linda

Author: Linda Silvas
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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