Powwow -Today & Yesterday

What is a Powwow?

Be sure to join us at the Plains Indian Museum Powwow! Have fun watching the dancers, listening to the drums, tasting the fry bread, purchasing Native American arts and crafts, and learning about the cultures and traditions of powwow.

According to Emma Hansen, Curator of the Plains Indian Museum, "This is an opportunity for Indian people to interpret their own culture rather than having visitors becoming familiar with Native cultures only through lecture-based learning. Visitors are exposed to humanities-based learning themes such as history, languages, ethnomusicology, as well as contemporary issues."

Hansen emphasizes that visitors to this colorful gathering are more than just onlookers." Spectators have many opportunities to actively participate in some of the dances. By joining in the festivities, the audience learns more about Plains Indian people, their lives and their heritage," she said.

The impressive Grand Entry marks the official start of the powwow. The color guard of veterans enter the arena carrying the American Flag, State Flag and Eagle Staff, representing American Indian Nations, families and communities. They are followed by dignitaries, including respected elders, and then the dancers fill the arena beginning with male traditional dancers and ending with the smallest children. In the competitive sessions, dancers use the whole arena to exhibit their skills with grace and finesse.

The powwow is an exciting educational event for visitors, and a gathering of family, friends and fellow competitors for dancers and drummers. The Plains Indian Museum Powwow is an intertribal competitive powwow, not an exhibition powwow. Dancers from all over the United States compete for cash and prizes.

Male dancers go against each other in the traditional, grass dance and fancy categories. While the women compete in traditional, fancy and jingle dress dancing. There are team dancing competitions, as well as specials sponsored by local businesses. The dance categories are divided into age groups, ranging from Golden Age (55 and over) to Tiny Tots (6 and under).

Many Native American artists also gather at the Robbie Powwow Garden to exhibit traditional art, crafts and jewelry for display and sale.

Powwow History

The modern powwow is an evolution of a variety of dance traditions, combined with ceremonial, social, and warrior society dances. Native American dance traditions and religious practices survived a ban by the United States Government during the second half of the 19th century, when cultural events had to go "underground." The dances and ceremonies were either held in secret on reservations, or were masked as other activities.

After the government lifted its ban in 1933, dance, once again, took an active public place in American Indian life. Returning World War II Indian veterans were honored at "Homecoming Dances." During this time, American Indian society also rebuilt important social ties and customs such as honoring elders, and naming and adoption ceremonies.

Powwows gained further prominence in the 1950s and 1960s, throughout the Plains region when Sioux, Crow, and Blackfeet tribes began to sponsor intertribal gatherings for fun and dancing. Over the last twenty years, powwows have moved from the reservations to large convention centers and gyms in cities all around the country.

Although the warrior societies and early Plains "Homecoming" powwows of the past were primarily the domain of male dancers, contemporary powwows are open to everyone: men, women, and even small children. Participation of men and women, "tiny tots," and elders indicates that not only are music and dance alive and well in Plains Indian culture, but that they will continue to play an important role for future generations.

To Learn More About Powwows We Recommend the Following Books:

Native American Dance: Ceremonies and Social Traditions
Charlotte Heth, 1992
Smithsonian Institution with Starwood Publishing, Washington D.C.

Powwow
George P. Horse Capture, 1989
Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming

Powwow
Ben Marra, 1996
Harry N. Abrams, New York