TO a POWWOW (Materials Used with Permission from the Muskegon Powwow)
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WELCOME TO A POWWOW (Materials used with permission from the Muskegon Powwow) Your presence in this celebration of our you hear at a Powwow are part of an oral heritage honors us. We hope that you will tradition and are learned by the singers gain a greater understanding and through an apprenticeship. The songs and appreciation of the North American Native the Drum should be approached with cultures and visions so that we may gain proper cultural courtesies. The Drum renewed respect for one another. We ask should be considered the same as a sacred our guests to be attentive to special bundle and must be treated with respect observances during the Powwow and to join and not handled unless its purpose is in our respect for our traditions and understood. Songs are treated in the same spiritual beliefs. This program was written way. Some songs can be sung only under to explain the meanings of our ways and special circumstances. Others are not sung seek to further develop mutual at all because of their power. The singers understanding of our cultures. collectively called the Drum, direct the dancers and radiate the spirit from the The Powwow has an historical, spiritual, and Sacred Circle's center. social value to the North American Native people. In addition to participating in the POWWOW ETIQUETTE traditional dances and songs, the Native Powwows are sacred events steeped in people can visit with family and friends, tradition. This sacredness will be make new acquaintances, and trade their explained later. However, to help you arts and crafts. The Powwow has also understand the traditional etiquette and become a means of sharing cultural thus be able to better participate and information with non-Natives. enjoy we offer the following basic list of do's and dont's. During the Powwow, both the young, who are just beginning their journey through When the Eagle Staff is brought into the life, and the elders, who are nearing ring during the Grand Entry (in company completion of their journey, share with the American Flag) or taken from the closeness to the Creator. It is during the ring, it is respectful to stand and remove Powwow that the spirit of the North your hat. American Native is renewed. The same respect should be shown should THE DRUM an eagle feather fall to the ground. If you Songs play a vital role in North American should discover a fallen eagle feather, Native culture, not only for entertainment, please do not pick it up. Rather guard it but also for religious purposes. The songs and notify a Powwow official. There are 1 ceremonies for the returning of a fallen No alcoholic beverages or drugs are eagle feather. allowed at the Powwow. Violators will be removed from the grounds. Pointing with a finger, particularly with the Visitors are welcomed to enter the dance index finger, is considered impolite. The arena during the inter-tribals or by traditional method is to indicate the invitation during special songs (e.g. Veteran direction by pursing the lips and pointing dances, blanket dances, honor dances). All with the eyes or with a nod of the head. other times please respect the sacredness of the ring by not entering it. DO NOT TOUCH ANY REGALIA. Ornaments have special meanings and many Seats within the dance arena are for the of the hand-crafted outfits, which can cost dancers. Participation in a special dance hundreds of dollars, are cherished for does not qualify a spectator for a seat having been made in part or on whole by a inside the dance area. Many times seats particularly respected family member. will be reserved, or identified as being Frequently, they are heirlooms and may be used by a person, by being covered with a delicate. Of course, the feathers have a blanket. Please respect this dancer's special sacredness. claim. Random walking, running, or playing in the Although much respect is given to the 4- Dance arena after it has been blessed at legged, dogs are not permitted in the dance the beginning of the weekend is strictly arena area. prohibited. Above all else, enjoy yourself, ask Taping of songs is allowed only by questions, and get to know the dancers, permission of the Head Singer of the drum. singers and vendors. Just like on St. Even if permission has been granted, the Patrick's Day - everyone's Irish - feel at Master of Ceremonies may request specific home when attending a Powwow. Swing and songs not be recorded at the Drum's dance the Anishinaabe way. request. Any photograph of an individual taken outside the ring should be with the expressed permission of that person. Obtaining an individual's permission shows respect for that person's dignity and rights of privacy. Some ceremonies or events, such as a dropped eagle feather POWWOW PREPARATION and its recovery, may not be photographed. Hosting a Powwow means many hours of The MC will help guide you on this. fund-raising and group effort. Most communities consider it very important to 2 host visitors to the best of their ability. of the song and not losing any part of their This can mean anything from providing regalia. meals and comfortable camping accommodations to giving participants gas Drum contests may be conducted during money. Generally, providing a friendly the regular rotation of Drums during the atmosphere for guests is an important weekend dances or there may be special value to Native People and is a reflection of sessions for solo or group hand drum the generosity and good will of the singers. sponsoring community. Visitors leaving with good feelings will return again for the Traditional powwows usually do not contain gathering. any contests, although there may be some An important duty prior to the gathering is judging of crafts or other casual sideline purification of the event grounds. This is competitions. These powwows tend to to help ensure that only good thought and offer more variety of dances for dancers feelings will occur there, and that everyone and visitors, as time is not used for will have a good time. Once the ground is contests and dance-offs. Traditional blessed, it is considered sacred, and powwows still may also include "fun" everyone is asked to keep it as clean as contests such as a two-step contest, best possible. This is why drugs and alcohol are crow hopper, fastest snagger, best Indian- not allowed at the event. Some dances also car, or other humorous events. Some hold sunrise ceremonies each day of the communities who host traditional powwows Powwow so participants (or anyone who choose to offer all the dancers and singers wishes to attend) may offer their morning a small honorarium to assist with the travel prayers. expenses in lieu of contest prizes. TYPES OF POWWOWS Traditional powwows have also given rise to Generally, there are two types of powwows spiritual or elder conferences held in common in the Great Lakes area, the conjunction with the event. These traditional powwow and the contest or gatherings give community members and competition powwow. visitors the opportunity to listen and learn from the elders. It is sometimes an The contest powwow features competition opportunity for naming ceremonies, in several dance and age categories. weddings, dance initiations, and other Judging to determine winners may also ceremonies that might not easily be held occur for other activities such as drum away from the Native community. While groups, solo singers, and even vendor set- not every community sponsors such ups. Judges carefully keep track of points conferences, they are becoming more through out the weekend looking at, style, common. ability to keep time to the music, THE DANCES knowledge of songs and dances, regalia, and North American Native dances are an very importantly, stopping on the last beat expression of thankfulness to the Creator, 3 as the people dance around the drums in while other Powwows are designed for fun the Sacred Circle, which represents the and fellowship and are regarded as cycle of life. Dancing is done in community traditional Powwows, not a competition spirit. It is traditionally a time when Powwow. friends and relatives come together to celebrate with each other. Over the years, the dances have changed to reflect the growth of traditions. Today, a Powwow begins by the blessing of the grounds, the WOMEN'S DANCE STYLES Grand Entry, and the Flag Song. Women's Traditional - This may be The Grand Entry is the first dance event another review of women's rights. As of the Powwow. The dancers enter the noted earlier, powwow style of dancing arena and create the Sacred Circle. began as an outgrowth of a men's club. But Participants signal the Grandfathers and someone had to cook for these important Grandmothers (the sacred ancestors) to functions. After many years some of these witness this event. As the dancers cooks began to wander over to view the proceed they reaffirm the strength of proceedings, then to bounce in time along traditional values. side the dance arena. Finally some brave souls began to dance inside. Whether To the Native people, the Flag Song holds dancing in place or moving around the the same regard, as does the National circle, these women are among the most Anthem to non-Natives. beautiful and cherished in the world. Dance clothes vary depending on whether All people are asked to stand and remove the dancer has chosen to wear a style from their hats as a sign of respect for the the Northern or Southern Plains or are Veterans who have served their country.