A SIGNIFICANT GATHERING
The PowWow is an American Indian gathering focusing on
dance, song and family celebration. Traditionally, it is a celebration
presented by one tribe or band to welcome and honor others. PowWows are
usually three day weekend events and people may travel great distances
to attend. The main PowWow season is summer (traditionally beginning with
a PowWow in March in Denver), however there has been a resurgence of PowWows
in the last decade, making it possible to attend a Powwow every weekend
year round in North America. All people (including non-Indian people)
are welcome at PowWows and are encouraged to attend one, as experiencing
a PowWow can be a valuable and fascinating cultural experience for non-Indian
people unfamiliar with our neighbors, the Indian people.
There are several different kinds of PowWows, though the two most common
are known as traditional and competition PowWows, respectively. In traditional
Powwows everyone who participates in the dance or singing programs is
awarded day money. While there is still a degree of competition in the
dancing events, it is somewhat informal and ceremonies such as honorings,
giveaways, "first" dances and adoptions are also important activities
of the day. A competition PowWow, on the other hand, has significant prize
money available for the dancers, depending upon the resources available
to the individual host tribe. While everyone can still compete and dance,
only the dancers who place near the top of the competition receive prize
money. Drum groups also compete for prize money.
The PowWow is organized by the PowWow committee, a dedicated group of
members of the host tribe. Their work involves the bringing together of
the drums, dancers, entertainment, food, crafts booths, and the administration
of the PowWow grounds (parking, registration, camping, sanitation, sound
system, and security). Once the PowWow begins, it is run by the Master
of Ceremonies (MC) and Arena Directors. Different MCs have different styles
and the choice of an MC greatly influences the feel of the PowWow. The
MCs provide a running commentary of events, announcements, and most importantly
background information about the dances, rituals and spirit of the PowWow.
Instilling appropriate humor into the proceedings is also the work of
the MC. The Arena Directors keep the event moving and manage the flow
of activity in the arena. At any one time, they may be telling the drums
who will play next and what kind of song to have ready, seeing to the
accommodations of the judges, or organizing the dancers. It is an extremely
active and important job.
Judges are changed for each category and are chosen for their knowledge
of the dance style and drum. They judge dancers on their style and form,
regalia and ability to stay in time with the drum and stop on the final
beat.
Working in close collaboration with Native American scholars
and tribal leaders, Senior Producer Barbara Wiener and the production
team chronicled a major PowWow held in Minnesota in the summer of 1994,
The Mdewankanton Dakota Community PowWow in Shakopee. Dakota anthropologist
and member of the Dakota community, Barbara Feezor Stewart, clarified
another aim of this project: "This society is filled with inaccurate images
of American Indians, and the images are easily manipulated. So being able
to show some sort of pride in our culture and heritage at a PowWow is
very important for the mental health of Indian people." It is in that
spirit that Wacipi - PowWow hopes to guide non-Indian people toward understanding
and appreciation of varied aspects of Native American culture.
For further information about this gathering and others
like it check out [further information about
PowWows in this area]
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