Origin of the term "pow wow"

The origin of the term "pow wow" is unclear. Some say it is an Algonquin word meaning medicine man or priest, some say it is a French term for meetings with Indians, while still others credit it to the Southern Plains Indians. In modern times, the word has come to mean the annual summer gatherings that center around social and ceremonial dances. This tradition can be traced back to pre-European times when Plains Indians used dance to honor tribal members, recognize important events, and protect warriors and hunters.

When Indians were moved onto reservations at the end of the 19th century, the meaning of their dancing changed. Indians began to use dance as a way to ask for help and guidance from the Great Spirit to cope with the disappearance of the bison and the end of a way of life. The U.S. government saw such dancing as incendiary -- particularly the Ghost Dance, which was a prayer for freedom from the whites and a return of the bison-and banned all public performances. The ban was eventually lifted in 1933, and dancing regained its important position in the culture and traditions of the Plains Indians.
Dancing and Ceremonies

Today the focal point of a pow wow is dancing. Whether they are dancing competitively or for fun, Indians of all ages come to these gatherings to show off their moves as well as their elaborate regalia. Many Indians actually follow the pow wow circuit, dancing for prize money that pays for their outfits, travel and food. Each pow wow on the circuit has its own flavor, but in general the ceremonies follow a common format.

Pow wows begin with a grand entry. An eagle staff bearer and flag attendants enter the arbor-or dance arena-followed by all the dancers who will compete and participate in the pow wow. Courtesy demands that everyone stand during the grand entry to show respect for the eagle feathers. Likewise, if an eagle feather falls from a dancer's headdress during the dancing, everything stops and the audience stands until the feather has been properly returned. According to legend, this tradition harkens back to a time when the Plains Indians were still following the path of the bison. During a large battle between two tribes, an eagle feather fell from the headdress of an invading warrior. The invaders fled, accidentally leaving the feather behind. The war chief stopped pursuit and told his warriors, "If these people are truly warriors, they will respect the feather and return to retrieve it."

Sure enough, the invaders returned that night to look for the feather. They were captured, blindfolded and taken to their enemy's camp, where rather than be put to death as they expected, they were treated to a feast and showered with gifts. The chief explained his behavior by saying, "Even though we are bitter enemies, the respect and meaning of the eagle feather is the same. We are all taught by the same Great Spirit and should respect his teaching." Today, modern tribes believe that if their ancestors could stop an entire war to retrieve an eagle feather, they should be able to stop a pow wow.

Traditional and Fancy Dances
After the grand entry, the dancing begins. Traditional and Fancy dances are the main forms of competitive dancing, while inter-tribal dances are a time for everyone to participate. Many of the traditional dances can be traced back to pre-European days, while some of the newer ones have only been around for 15 or 20 years.

"We have songs and dances passed down from generation to generation, but we also make new songs and dances because we have new people," Mark Soldier Wolf says. Soldier Wolf is a 73-year-old Northern Arapaho who has been dancing for as long as he can remember. Most pow wows have tiny tot competitions for dancers as young as two years old. Elders like Soldier Wolf also participate actively in the dancing.

Part of the pageantry of the dancing comes from the elaborate regalia the dancers wear. The various styles of dress originate from either ceremonial or societal functions of the past. Male dancers usually wear leggings and a breech cloth decorated with ribbons and beadwork. A breastplate of bones and beads is worn across the dancer's chest, while a bustle made from feathers is worn on his back. Women usually wear dresses decorated with elk teeth or shells, as well as beaded moccasins, leggings, belts and braid ties.

Within these basic styles, each individual dancer has a great deal of freedom to express his or herself. For example, Ricky Blackburn, an Arapaho dancer, wears an outfit bearing two beaded lightning bolts striking the top of a tipi. These bolts refer to a lightning strike that killed one of Blackburn's friends and singed his feet when he was just a child. His outfit also has bison tracks leading across it in honor of the historical importance the bison had for his people.

These personal stories are woven into the dancer's outfits through detailed beadwork done in an array of colors. Hundreds of years ago, specific colors were associated with specific tribes. For instance, Arapaho beadwork was typically done on a white or blue background because traders reserved blue and white beads for the tribe. This distinction did not last long, however. As the Indians absorbed beads into their culture, they traded colors with neighboring tribes and their regalia became rainbow-hued. Today pow wow dancers, particularly the Fancy dancers, may be dressed in everything from red, yellow, blue and white, to pink and orange.
The pow wow dances

One of these newest dances commonly performed at a pow wow is the Fancy dance. The Fancy dance combines elements of modern rock-and-roll with the pounding drums and haunting chants of traditional Indian music. An acrobatic, whirling routine, the Fancy Dance is typically performed by teenagers or young males. The Fancy shawl dance is performed by girls and young women. In this dance, women swirl brilliantly beaded shawls around in swooping circles of blurred color.

Another new dance is the Grass Dance. This dance made its way south from Canada where it originated as a way to stamp down the tall prairie grass for dancing or erecting camp. The song is accompanied by a story about a lame Cree Indian who longed to dance. According to the story, he limped up a small hill to pray for guidance. As he looked out across the prairie, he saw the grass swaying and swooping in the wind, and it came to him that this could be his dance. Today men wear strings of ribbons and yarn hanging from their arms and waist to represent grass and the dance has a rhythmic flow to it that echoes the look of grass waving in the wind.

The jingle dance for women also comes from legend. In this story, an old Chippewa man lay dying. He dreamed he saw his daughter dancing in a dress that jingled. When he woke, he had recovered miraculously. He told his daughter about the dream, and the jingle dance was born. To make the tinkling dress, dancers roll metal lids of snuff boxes into coils that clink together with movement.
For both men and women, victory dances are more traditional than the Fancy dance, the grass dance or the jingle dance. Victory dances were originally performed after a tribe was successful in battle. In the dance, performers imitate the movement of warriors sneaking up and killing an enemy or of them counting coup, which was a way of bettering an opponent without killing him. Hunting dances are also based on the past and typically mimic a hunter going through a successful kill.

Drumming and singing accompanies all the dancing. The drum beat is sacred and represents the heart beat of the Indian people. Each pounding note carries songs to the Great Spirit allowing the people's prayers to be heard. Because of their religious significance, drums are never left unattended.

Most pow wows begin on Friday evening and last through Sunday. Nights are reserved for dancing, while days are busy with horse races, foot races, Indian games, socializing and 'give-always.' Give-always traditionally was time when a family or an individual would hand out food, hides, jewelry or weapons to others in appreciation for being honored by the Great Spirit with a skillful hunt or courage in battle. Today, give-always are commonly used to remember someone who has died or to recognize an individual's achievements.
Large pow wows offer large cash prizes and may draw several thousand dancers from tribes across the plains. Other pow wows may be small community affairs, but all are gatherings that represent a time for Indians to lay down their differences and celebrate their common heritage.
"We let traditional animosities go and try to become friends and face our common problems together," Mark Soldier Wolf says.

"Pow wows are celebrations. We go to meet friends and talk about our government and problems at home on the reservation. It is also a time to find out who has died, who has been married and if children have been born."

Hints for enjoying and understanding pow wows
The general public is invited to attend pow wows, but audiences should recognize and respect the sacred thread running through the celebration. Remember to stand and remove your hat when the eagle staff is brought in during the Grand Entry. The same respect should be shown if an eagle feather falls.

Pointing a finger, particularly an index finger, is considered rude. To indicate a person or a direction, purse your lips and point your eyes or nod in the direction you mean. Camera flashes can be distracting. Photos may be taken, but don't use flashes during the contest. Ask permission before taking a picture of someone outside of dancing. Don't touch regalia without permission. Many of the outfits are handmade and cost thousands of dollars. They often have special significance for the dancer and his or her family.