The PowwowA Native American Gathering

Powwow

An event where family and friends gather to celebrate the seasonal renewal of life.

Let’s take a closer look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s9z3IOpH1g

A long lived tradition

Powwows provide Native Americans with a link to the past.

Most modern powwows are not exclusive to one tribe, but feature many tribes = intertribal.

It was also used as a religious ceremony to pray for a good hunt, and prosperous crops.

What happens at a Powwow?

The ceremony is always held in a circle, which is a sacred shape to the

indians.

The elders will bless the space, and smoke out bad spirits by burning tobacco or sage.

The Powwow always begins opens with a processional dance led by the men, then the woman, and lastly the children.

What happens at a Powwow?

The dances are always accompanied by drumming and singing.

The music is can be recorded, but never written down. It is part of the tradition that you learn how to play it from your elders.

The singing is very free, and always in the native language.

Men’s Dances

Men’s Traditional

Men’s Grass

Men’s Fancy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4Y9tg-xx_U

Women’s Dances

Woman’s Traditional

Woman’s Fancy

Woman’s Jingle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWga6EO3HzA

The Singing

The singing styles at Powwows are very unique.

Native Tongue

“Vocables” = sounds that replace words

ex) “ya,” “hey,” “lio”

The dancers listen for ques in the singing to aid their dancing, while the drum simply keeps the steady beat.