The Pow Wow

 

The Pow Wow celebrates the Native American connections to tradition, spirituality, to the Earth, and to one another.

The Grand Entry...

 

The Pow Wow begins with a Grand Entry where flags representing nations, families, and communities are flown.

As the drum beat begins, the host tribal chair enters. Other honored members enter followed by the men, then the women, and finally the younger dancers. When the arena is filled with all the dancers, the prayer song and the song for honoring veterans begins.

The Pow Wow tradition continues today with thousands of Native American people participating.




The Songs in the Pow Wow...

The songs in the Pow Wow are traditionally played by a drum group - a group usually consists of men who circle a large drum and play the beat using covered mallets. The beat of the drum represents the heartbeat of the people.

The pace and the style of the song varies depending upon the kind of dance being performed.

The dancers move to the beat of the drum as they express their feelings and spirit through their movements.


 



You can learn more about Pow Wows by visiting these sites...
 

 
The Grand Entry
 
Teen Fancy Shawl Dancers
 


Learn Pow Wow words and sounds in the language of the Dakota