POW-WOWS

WHAT IS A POW-WOW?

• Pow-wows are a gathering of some North America's Native tribes
• Originated from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader"
• Narragansett is a native american tribe in Rhode Island
• A place to meet, dance, sing, socialize, and honor Native American culture
• They may be a public or a private event

ARBORS

• The arena of a pow-wow is often called an "arbor"
• It may be inside or outside
• "There should be no drugs, alcohol, profanity, or boisterous behavior in this area"
• Before the celebration, the arena is blessed and represented as sacred ground during the celebration
• It should be respected as if you were in church, even photography is permitted only at certain times

WHO ATTENDS THE CELEBRATION?

• Anyone can attend a pow-wow, its actually encouraged for others to join
• Other races and tribes werent allowed to attend until the 1920's

DANCES

• Dances performed originated from the Plains tribes of Canada and the U.S
• They include a strong personal and spiritual connection
• Theres different stories and interpretations for each dance
• The stories and interpretation depends on tribal and family background
• Usually a contest with cash prizes for certain style and age group

MENS TRADITIONAL DANCE

• Fancy dance or fancy feather dance, northern and southern styles
• Straight dance, or southern traditional
• Grass dance

FANCY FEATHER DANCE

• Originated in Oklahoma
• Colored feathers, ribbon shirts, anklets with sheep bells, porcupine roach with few feathers
• Known to be fast footwork, with athletic ability, and originality

STRAIGHT DANCE

• They often wear wear long sleeved shirts, breech cloth, and legging that are trimmer with ribbonwork
• Otter skin trailer decorated with mirrors, beadwork, or ribbonwork
• Bone hair pipe and bead bandoliers, woven yarn garters and slide tabs, a choker of silver or beads
• Also includes a porcupine roach with a single eagle feather, and an eagle feather fan

GRASS DANCE

• On their heads they wear either a bandana or a porcupine roach
• Its known for its fluid movements and sliding steps
• They wear yokes, breech cloths, anklets covered with strands of brightly colored yarn

CHICKEN DANCE

• Originates from the Northern Plains tribes
• Usually imitates the mating dance of chickens
• Wear moccasins that are simple in nature or fully beaded
• Includes porcupine hair roach, two long pheasant tail feathers with colored plumes on the end
• Carrying a mirror board or gourd in one hand and an eagle tail feather fan in the other

WOMENS TRADITIONAL DANCE

• Traditional dance, northern style
• Buckskin and cloth
• Fancy shawl
• Jingle dress, or healing dance

FANCY OR SHAWL DANCE

• Dresses made of light weight and shiny fabric with beaded belt, barrettes, and hair ties
• A shawl is also worn and held out as the dancer steps and twirls
• The legend behind the Shawl Dance is of a butterfly who lost her mate in battle
• Known for fancy footwork and fluid movements

JINGLE DANCE

• Originates from the Objibwa Nation
• The dresses worn are covered in "jingles", or snuff can lids
• The sound represents waves or thunder portraying good luck, because it scares away evil spirits
• They're judged on their grace and traditional footwork

BUCKSKIN AND CLOTH DANCE

• Buckskin dresses are usually heavily beaded across the yoke and have long fringe
• The fringe represents a waterfall, continuously flowing, giving life, and persevering like an Indian Mother
• Includes beaded moccasins, beaded belt/concho belt, beaded hair barrettes, hair ties, and otter skin hair wraps
• They usually carry a beaded bag, an eagle feather fan, or a shawl

NORTHERN & SOUTHERN DANCES

• Southern style is usually danced clockwise around the Arbor
• Northern style is usually danced in one spot

SPOKANE POW-WOW

• Located in Spokane, Washington
• A gathering for dancing, just like other Pow-Wow's held in other areas
• Usually held over labor day weekend
• The Spokane Tribe inhabited northeast Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana for many centuries
• Now live on Wellpinit, Washington, and continue to inhabit larger community of Spokane, Washington

POW-WOWS IN MINNESOTA

• October 24, 2014- Fond du Lac Ojibwe School Dagwaagin Pow Wow, Traditional
• October 24, 2014- American Indian Magnet School Pow Wow, Traditional
• November 1, 2014- Gathering for Our Children and Returning Adoptees Pow wow, Traditional
• November 14, 2014- American Indian Magnet School Pow Wow, Traditional
• November 27- November 29, 2014- Thanksgiving Pow Wow*, Traditional

POW-WOWS IN MINNESOTA

• December 19-December 20,2014- American Indian Magnet School Winter Pow Wow, Traditional
• January 16,2015- American Indian Magnet School Pow Wow, Traditional
• February 13, 2015- American Indian Magnet School Pow Wow, Traditional
• March 13, 2015- American Indian Magnet School Pow Wow, Traditional
• May 29, 2015- American Indian Magnet School Pow Wow, Traditional