Pow Wow

See also: Pow wow (homonymy)

The word pow-wow indicates historically any gathering of Indiens of America. It was traditionally about a religious event (Chamanisme) or celebration of warlike exploits. Today, there exists a true “circuit” of the pow-wow which became festive demonstrations and an occasion for the Amerindians to make live their cultural heritage. The pow wow represents a festival of the meeting and is seen by the Amerindians as one moment privileges for each one to approach the core and to exchange in family.

History

Etymology

The etymology of the word pow-wow is not clear but it is doubtless about a loan to an Amerindian language, probably a language algonquienne. Europeans would have deformed this word by using it to indicate all Amerindian gathering.

History of the pow-wows

The pow-wows would result from gatherings held by the tribe of the Omaha since several centuries. The warriors met to dance and celebrate their exploits and their good fortune. Starting from the tribes of the large plains, these demonstrations would have been spread with the other groups of Amerindians. The modern first pow-wows appeared there is approximately a century in the Amerindian Réserves of the North-West of the the United States. At the time, the dance was one of the only Amerindian habits which was not strictly prohibited.

Pow-wows today

Cultural festivals

Whereas it acted in the beginning of a warlike or spiritual demonstration, the pow-wows took a festive and cultural turning. The modern pow-wows are generally intertribaux , i.e. everyone can take part. They are also the occasion to organize contests of Danse or fairs for the traditional Artisanat. It would seem that the pow-wows became one of the principal means of expression of the Amerindian identity and of the safeguard of their cultures. Organized first of all in the reserves, the pow-wows multiplied and one finds some for example in the universities.

With Window Rock'n'roll (Arizona), the pow wow of the festival of the nation Navajo joins together each year of the Indians come from all the country. A young person Creates, in traditional costume of parade, holds the flag of the United States like also asserting his membership of the Union.

Unfolding of a pow-wow

The organization and the unfolding of a pow-wow obey strict rules. It is prepared by a committee, for which a particular space is reserved the feastday. The pow-wow starts with a procession taken along by veterans, carrying flags. A master of ceremony gives the signal of the departure to the various groups of percussions which take part in the pow-wow. Several styles of dances follow one another, the guests being invited to take part at the time of dances specific, known as intertribales. The surface of dance and the costumes ( Regalia ) carried by the dancers have an particular importance and it is necessary to take care not to touch them without the permission of the participants.

External bonds

  • History of the modern pow-wows
  • Stanford pow-wow (richly illustrated article)

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