Pow wow celebration!!

Certainly among American people ( native or non native ), Pow wow celebration is well known, but for people from another countries like me, it might be something knew.

Personally I haven´t been to one yet, thus I´ll write based on researches and friends clues. If someone wants to add or correct some information, please feel free to email me. sandra.padmaprem@gmail.com

Pow wow is a Native festival for celebrations, social gatherings, dance and hand drum competitions where art and culture can be found and it´s a way to keep native culture and tradition alive.

Also it´s a time for sacred beliefs to be renewed and shared!! It´s called Wacipi in Dakota Language and the term powwow is traced from Alonquin Language. There are public and private ones.

David Midthunder performing

There are several different stories of how it started, none of them is considered the correct one, they are only possibilities. Some believe its origin come from  Southern Plains tribes and it was originally a spring event to celebrate the seasonal renewal of new life.  In the Dakota/Lakota tradition, the celebration was also a prayer to Wakantanka ( the Great Spirit, Grandfather or Great Mystery).

Another belief is that when the Native Americans were forced onto reservations the government also forced them to have dances for the public to come and see.

Michael Spears performing hand drum

The circle represents the circle of unity, the cycle of life. Almost all natives activities – not just in the U.S.A but for all native peoples, have the circle with the same representation. Another important thing to learn is that the clothing worn by the dancers are not called “customes” but “regalias”, and some of them have special meaning.

Powwows are still very much a part of the lives of many Native Americans around the state and country , all places where there are native tribes , and are held , at several locations  during peak periods, from June until September, but may be during all over the year , depending on the place.Many families "go on the circuit', camp out and enjoy the traditional activities.

The most important Powwow is in New Mexico called “ Gathering of Nations “.