The Powwows is a time for renewing old friendship and making new ones.Children play together and ride bare back among the tent and tepees.A parade signals the beginning of the powwow.After the parade the voice of the master of ceremonies comes from the loud speakers in the dancing arbor,summoning the singers and dancers.Everyone waits for the opening cereremony,called the grand entry that signals the beginning of the dancing.Like those of the traditional men,the women's clothes reflect a closeness to nature."Powwow literally means "one who has visions". This is some of the facts we know about "powwows'!!!!!
Ancana, George. Powwow, San Diego 1993.
We would like to learn more about Pow Wows, especially the ones performed in your culture. Ms. Benape said our Court Day celebration reminded you of your Pow Wows. We can only read about a Pow Wow in a book. What is a Pow Wow really like?
Excerpt from the Wyoming Sage Publication, an ocassional publication from the AARP of Wyoming. November, 2011
ReplyDeleteDancing under the stars
Northern Arapahoe Tribe hosts a pow-wow this New Year's Eve.
By, Kelly Cooper
All year long, the people of the
Northern Arapaho Tribe in Ethete,
Wyo., look forward to their end-ofyear
competition pow-wow.
“Everyone is welcome,” said
Rob Valdez, one of the pow-wow’s
organizers. “Don’t be afraid to
participate.”
The pow-wow, held in Ethete’s
Blue Sky Hall from December
30-January 1, is free and open to
the public. Visitors can expect to
see a wide variety of dances from
people of all ages and the beautiful
regalia that accompany each dance.
Sandra Iron Cloud, pow-wow
organizer, said the competition
is broken down into different
categories for each dance and
different age groups ranging from
children 7 and under to retired
adults. There are varying amounts
of prize money for each dance and
age bracket as well.
“The judges will be looking
for style, appropriate regalia,
timing and personal knowledge
of the dance,” Iron Cloud said.
“Are they dancing hard? Are they
enjoying it?”
Valdez said the women’s
categories are typically jingle,
fancy and traditional dance, while
the men’s categories are usually
grass, fancy and traditional dance.
The jingle dance performed
by the women features outfits
with several rows of metal cones.
Valdez said the cones are made
from lids of chewing tobacco cans.
Sometimes his family trades or
barters for the cones for his wife
and daughters’ regalia.
The men’s grass dance is
distinguished by regalia with long
flowing fringe. The designs may
represent grass blowing.
The men’s fancy dance is highly
athletic with a lot of dramatic
movement. Men typically wear
regalia with two bustles, while
the women’s version of the dance
features intricate and colorful
fringed shawls and elaborate steps.
The traditional dance for both
men and women features steps
from time-honored dances and
regalia made of authentic designs
and materials.
“A lot of care and a lot of time
and a lot of money go into making
the regalia,” Iron Cloud said. “You
take care of it, and it takes care of
you.”
Valdez, his wife Andi, and their
four children all participate. Their
family has attended pow-wows
across the country and in Canada.
“We try to teach our kids to
respect what they have on,” he
said. The outfits are important
articles of their family and may
include items that have been
handed down or given during
naming ceremonies.
But Native children don’t take
classes to learn these dances. They
learn early on, Valdez said, adding
that his wife danced at pow-wows
through all four pregnancies.
“My children all had the
drumbeat in them when they were
born,” he said, adding that he sees
that in many Native children.
Andi makes most of the powwow
outfits the family wears,
although sometimes they trade for
beadwork or another component.
Depending on the dance and the
size, she can easily spend a week
on one outfit.
With four children, all the
different outfits for multiple dances
can be quite expensive.
“You know how teenagers are –
they want a different outfit for each
day,” Valdez said. “