 Did you
say there are three different kinds of powwows?  Depending on who you ask, you're likely to find out that there are several different kinds of powwows. But generally speaking, there are two basic kinds of events: 'competition powwows', at which dancers and drum groups compete for prize money, and 'traditional powwows', where participants are not awarded prize money but instead receive gifts and acknowledgements for taking part. Some traditional powwows are sponsored by families to honor relatives or to commemorate significant events in their lives. | |
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What are
the dancers wearing? Dance outfits, also called regalia, are made from leather, porcupine quills, silver or other metal work, beads, cloth, fur, horn, bone, feathers and sometimes sequins. Every style of dance has a different outfit. For example, the women "jingle dress dancers" have small cone shaped tin jingles fastened to their outfits, one cone attached for each day of the year. "Traditional women dancers" wear buckskin or cloth outfits; they often carry shawls over one arm and hold feather wing fans. "Traditional men dancers", usually wear dark coloured cloth or leather, and have a large feather bustle attached aroudn their waist at the back; men "fancy dancers" wear bright colored outfits and have two very eyecatching coloured bustles tied to their backs. | |
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| What kind
of drum is that? The drum is at the heart of every powwow; it represents the heartbeat of the earth, the rhythm of life itself. As Paul Gowder says, "The drum brings the heart beat of our Earth Mother to the Pow Wow for all to feel and hear." At powwows, you'll see large wood frame drums covered with leather hides; some are suspended from four posts, some sit on cloths or blankets resting on the ground. Some are decorated with traditional designs or colors representing the four directions; others are painted with the name of the drum group. The singers each hold a padded drum stick; they hit the drum simultaneously to create one single, loud drum beat. | |
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| Why are
there only men in drum groups? There are women drum groups, and "mixed drums" with both men and women singers, but most commonly, men are said to be the traditional drummers and singers at these events. You may see or hear a group of women standing around the drummers; they sing an octave higher than the men. | |
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| Why do you
dance in a circle? The circle is a basic symbol of life and continuity shared by almost every Native nation. The drum, the earth, the sun are all circles; life and seasonal cycles are also described as circles of experience and existence. You dance in a clockwise circle at a powwow because for these nations, that is the direction of life itself. | |
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| How do
you learn the songs and dances? Some people are gifted with a great ability to dance or to sing, but the best way to learn is by taking part. Most people start dancing when they are young children, travelling with their families to powwows across the country. The more you dance, the more songs you know, the greater your understanding of the meaning of these events - all this contributes to your ability as a dancer. Singers learn by taking part at powwows, taping other drum groups, and practicing with friends and family. But you can't simply record any song you choose and sing it - some songs are owned by specific individuals or groups, and you need their permission to learn and perform these. Others can only be sung at very specific ceremonial events during a powwow. Out of respect for the drum, for the dancers, for the song, you respect this sense of 'powwow etiquette'. | |
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| How old do
you have to be to dance at a powwow? Some children start dancing before they can walk, carried around the dance circle in their parent's arms. At competition powwows, the 'tiny tots' dance category has dancers as young as 10 months joining in. Some people continue to dance competitively at powwows throughout their lives. | |
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| Can I
dance at a powwow? At some powwows, both Native and nonNative people are invited to join in during 'intertribals'. At other events, you have to be wearing a powwow regalia to take part. If you don't know whether or not to dance, out of respect just ask some of the other dancers or the powwow organizing committee. | |
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| What else
would I see? There's so much going on at a powwow! You can look at silverwork, jewelry, beadwork, baskets and powwow t-shirts at vendors tables; there might be a baseball game or horse shoe toss taking place. Or you can socialize with friends and family members. | |
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Where can I find more information?
Why not contact a Native cultural center or community center where you live? There are many First Nations museums and organizations that can tell you more about powwows. In this website, we've included addresses for more information on the internet, as well as a bibliography. You can also find out more information at your local library. | |
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