Little Known Facts About Native American Pow Wows

By Rebecca Barnes


Everywhere you are situated in the world, you may have seen different ways of how people celebrate bigger events and bigger social gatherings. Many countries in the world celebrate holidays, festivals and the tradition of their ancestry. Have you ever thought about how other people celebrate their tribe? Perhaps, it could develop your curiosity. The celebration has always been a part of the culture of every tribe, ancestry, and customs. Today, the Native american pow wows have been a tradition among the Native American culture.

Celebrating culture and heritage is a way of keeping and protecting old practices. Powwow has served positive engagement with regards to the new generation. It has provided them to transfer the possession of the rich culture and heritage of every American Indian. It has been an effectual way to let people socialize and be part of the activities such as dancing and singing. Apart from that, it had also catered to renew relationships and friendships.

Through history as to how and when it started, there was never really an exact detail as to how it boomed just like that. People are left with no answers until today. The rise of powwow had helped people to be cured and healed with their certain illnesses through spiritual existence, as they believed. This is typically recognized during the summer and spring seasons.

It has proven to evolve throughout the years as it started as a religious event to obtain insights and to recognize the creator, Wakan Tanka. Today, it has been more of a celebration to showcase the tribal dancers and singers competitively. However, the celebration is not complete without the religious side of it. Ideally, it did not undergo drastic changes when it comes to how it is celebrated and how it should be, but it only added significant excitement for all to engage in.

The dancing, gathering, chants, healing sessions and the loud boom of every drum are the major components as to how it should be celebrated. The new set of generation is fortunate enough to still celebrate this kind of renewal and social gathering celebration. The natives have tried to continue this tradition, not just for their interest, but to let others experience it as well. Some powwows would go around different places in the country just to teach other people and inform them further on the Native American culture.

Apart from dancing, there are also singing activities that are mostly competition oriented. Performances are mostly related to religion, stories and the involvement of their culture. This celebration would usually last up to three days straight with several dancers and singers who would participate. This is attended by over one hundred thousand people who would watch, socialize and enjoy the festivities. This explains how this culture has been highly celebrated today.

Part of this ceremony is the showcasing of fancy, colorful and complex dresses that natives mostly use in their performances. There is a lot of intricate tailoring that to be done just to come up with the best dresses for their performances. Some of these dances would include the fancy feather dancing, jingle dancing and so much more. A dress for them is not just something worn, but it also has its origin and is designed with its meaning. This has been one of the many features that they showcase with so much pride.

In the generation today, some do not celebrate the festivities of their tribe, neither the religious beliefs. Most cultures are highly westernized, which follows a different way. Celebrations today would include partying with alcoholic drinks. People today will never understand why preservation of culture has been part of the identity that powwows have kept throughout the years. It gives them so much pride in how they can sustain these aspects.

Perhaps, there could be several factors that have affected other cultures to die down. It is the preservation and determination that is lacking. When you commit to keeping and protecting your culture, you are also conserving the practices you have possessed from the teachings of your ancestors. In such a way, it helped a person determine and redevelop the identity.




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