Native American Pow-Wow Dance Analysis

Native American art forms have been dwindling in the past few years. Even though they have been decreasing, some tribes gather still to continue traditions. Art forms such as dance, pottery, and weaving have been passed down from generation to generation. There are many different types of dances including war dances, grass dances, and rain dances. Each dance has its own meaning and represents something unique. Native American dance is a creative way to tell a story, share values, pass down traditions, and communicate traditions of their ancestors in the 21st century.

A Native American Pow Wow is the Native American ceremonies which have evolved from a formal ceremony of the past into a modern variety of dance, family reunion, and festival. It contains with the colorful tribal dance contests, handmade product, crafts show, tipis, and singing. As a social skill, Powwow is the Native American’s best way of meeting together to join in dancing, singing, making new friends. Dances play an essential part of the life of the Native American. Over the years, even dance styles and content have changed, but their profound meaning and importance have not.

In Catholicism, Christians attend worship service to practice their faith. During church, they do a variety of traditions, which include, “prayers, scripture readings, the singing of pslams from the Old Testament, the consecration of bread and wine, [and] communion” (Quinlan 275). Evidently, the liturgy is organized on the basis of strengthening one’s faith, by practicing on a weekly basis. Even more so, the church exhibits its faith by involving the community to celebrate the Lord together. In comparison, a powwow is very similar to a weekly Christian worship service. During a powwow, the participants celebrate through song and dance, prayer, ceremonies, and acts of hospitality and unity (“The Powwow”). Similar to the Holy Communion, powwow end their ceremony with a feast as an act of honor. Moreover, powwows are a form of community and are considered social gatherings in the Native American culture. Thus, the Christian Worship Service and an Aboriginal powwow have common qualities. However, these ceremonies are not the only way they practice their religion

Australian Aboriginals used danced to communicate stories of the cultural spirits and legends, along with tell stories of the past, present and future with those in their community (Cheeky Dancers, n.d.). There is a sense of pride when they dance and pass on their history and culture to the generations after them (The age, 2013). Aboriginal people are proud of their heritage and dance allows them to express their thoughts and views of the world the way they see

The Shawnee Indians were know for a style of dance called the Stomp Dance. Men, women, and children would participate in this dance. During this dance, a lead man would dance one round, in a counter-clockwise circle and sing. Then, alternating women and men would line up behind the leader in a single-file with the children at the end. This dance is performed during the summer several times a year. They are danced on ceremonial grounds which was usually a square dance area with a fire. The Shawnee Indians do this dance to celebrate their culture.

In the Iroquois Quiver Dance the first thing to strike the ear is what is often known as a “call and response” form. One singer announces a phrase of “lexical text,” known as the call, the other singer answers him in a vocal pattern. This continues throughout the song. In illustrating many of the musical styles among Native American music, this has another name known as the “Warrior’s Stomp Dance.” The voices in the Iroquois Quiver Dance are relatively relaxed compared with that of the Plains singing.

In John Smith’s The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles, his portrayal of the Native Americans is that of a tradition-driven people, who were willing to trade and occasionally aid the colonists, but were ultimately considered barbarians. The traditional aspect of the native’s culture can be found in their descriptions of fighting and dancing, with one of Smith’s first hostile encounters describing the Native Powhatan warriors being painted in different colors while “singing

“The Powwow at the End of the World” by Sherman Alexie appears to be a modern free verse poem with varying line length and no end rhyme. It is actually a ceremony to preserve and restore the Native American land and way of life. The repetition of the beginning of the lines and the strong rhythm suggest the drumbeat and dance of the apocalyptic powwow, or communal dance of Indians at the end of the world when all will be put right again. The speaker is an Indian answering the demand for forgiveness by the audience, who imply the Indians should forget four centuries of the atrocities committed by European settlers. He speaks in authoritative chant-like native rhetoric as though he can actually do what he says, like a medicine man. The poem in a few lines undoes the effects of modern civilization, destroying dams and allowing the waters to flow and the salmon to return.

In the beginning, many native americans were killed, while Omaamikwe was guided by a spirit. Protecting Omaamikwe was the spirit’s task and succeeded. Then, after some time a drum came to Omaamikwe which was the big drum. Omaamikwe was instructed on all the songs and eventually the big drum society was formed. Today the big drum is a powwow drum which is very social to the people. The drum’s purpose is to bring people together at a powwow. Which is a gathering of people to celebrate their heritage. The arrival of the drum allowed people to communicate with spirits and was vital to their own spirituality. Such vitals were pleasure, healing, hunting, war, and ceremony to ensure the spirits were with them. A sound of thunder comes from the drum

Some reports say that the word powwow has its origin from the Pawnee word pa-wa, mean¬ing “to eat”, other sources say the word indicates a gathering of people for purpose of celebration or important event. The word Pow Wow, or pau wau, might also means a gathering of people coming together to trade. In any case, it is a special time for people to meet and rejoice, meet old friends and create new friendships. Explorers misinterpreted the ritual of dancing by medicine men, assuming that all natives gathered to sing and dance in this manner.

Native Americans celebrate a lot of traditions but one of the most popular celebration is Pow wows. Pow wows are also a time to extend native american culture and preserve the rich heritage of american indians. According to the article, What is a Pow wow, “A pow wow is gathering for many different communities”. Native americans have a diverse culture. Some say that Pow wows stand for an “American Indian medicine man”. Pow wows celebrate people’s way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships, and making new ones.

Upon my arrival, the Powwow was about to start. Before finding a seat I observed some other aspects of the Powwow. On the walkway of the Lloyd Noble Center were multiple vendors. These vendors were selling homemade art and other various crafts. Food was also being sold within this area and on one location on the floor. On the floor of the Lloyd Noble Center was an array of things. Tribal members, dancers, drummers, and singers were all located on the floor. A stage was also set up for the M.C. (Master of

In the Native community there are numerous styles such as Grass, Old Time Sioux, Northern Traditional, Prairie Chicken, Fancy, and Straight dance. Each of the dance styles were brought about for their own reason and created by different Native tribes throughout North America. The origins of the Prairie Chicken dance start with the Blackfoot and Cree tribes in the Northern Great Plains. When the tribes arrived in the Great Plains they were amazed by an animal that was called the Prairie Chicken. The Native people were so mesmerized by this bird that they started a brand new dance style to show off the power and confidence of this bird. This style is called the Prairie Chicken dance. In order for the Prairie Chicken dance to be labeled as one the best Native American dancing styles it should be a high energy dancing that draws the audience in to watch, have stunning regalia that catches the eyes of countless people, and have hand items that are stunning.

I only remember going to one powwow in my life. It was several years ago when I was just a child at the Cherokee National Holiday celebration. I have seen some other Native dancers at different events but never formal powwows. I have always wanted to see more, but I have never had an opportunity to see another one. So, when I saw I had an assignment where I was required to go to an American Indian event, I knew I wanted to see another powwow. I looked on the Oklahoma Tourism website and found the nearest one to where I live. It was the Restoring Harmony / Stand to Power Powwow at the Westside YMCA in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I learned a lot about modern tribal initiatives dealing with health, culture, and intertribal relations.

How often do you stop to take in the moment? Imagine a man who is not as happy as he