Moving History: The Evolution of the Powwow

Moving History: The Evolution of the Powwow
“Powwows are a celebration of being Indian!”
By Dennis W. Zotigh
Powwows celebrate being Indian. These events inspire cultural and personal pride in
American Indians. They allow Indian tribes, families, and individuals to come together
for the purpose of feasting, hearing their languages spoken, exchanging arts and crafts,
singing, dancing, and upholding tribal customs. Because the powwow is a recent
Indian phenomenon, it should be emphasized that an Indian cannot be considered
traditional simply because he or she attends powwows.
The term "powwow" derives from an Algonquian Indian word "pau wau," which
means "he dreams." In this definition, "pau wau" had a personal, reverent, religious
significance. Contrasting this definition, the contemporary powwow is open to the
public and is a group-oriented social event.
The concept of powwow originated among the tribes who inhabited the Great Plains
from the southern prairies of Canada to the lower plains of Texas. In the prereservation
era, many Plains tribes formed inter-tribal alliances. These alliances
allowed tribal-specific songs, dances, and ceremonies to be exchanged. This is the
historical foundation for today’s "intertribal powwow."
The first legitimate intertribal powwow in Oklahoma was the Ponca Powwow. It began
in northern Indian Territory around 1879. Indian Territory was truly inter-tribal as
approximately 67 tribes have been historically associated with lands that became
Oklahoma. Many tribes’ members traveled by horse as far as one hundred miles to
participate in inter-tribal singing and dancing at the Ponca event. These tribes included
the Omaha, Ponca, Kaw, Osage, Pawnee, and Otoe-Missouria. The "heluska" or men’s
warrior dances dominated the early Ponca Powwows.
Into the early 1900s the Plains Indians’ lifestyles were rapidly deteriorating as the
peoples’ spirits had been broken. During World War I American Indians enlisted in the
armed forces, and members of Indian tribes that were once mortal enemies fought side
by side to defend the United States. At their homecoming most veterans laid their
tribal differences aside to dance with their comrades to a common drumbeat. The
American flag, once a symbol of the destruction of Indian lives, acquired a new status
at twentieth century Indian gatherings. In a renaissance of ancient warrior societies,
celebrations began to reemerge to honor veterans as modern-day warriors. Tribal
elders who remembered specific tribal protocol contributed their knowledge of
conducting ceremonies for Indian servicemen.
As a result, new procedures, combined with ancient traditions, developed to fit the
times. By 1920 the Plains tribes of southwestern Oklahoma held their first inter-tribal
powwow at Dietrich Lake. As inter-tribal powwows became more numerous, new
songs and organizations were instituted to commemorate contemporary events. By the
1950s the inter-tribal powwow reached the cities as tribal members relocated to find
employment. This provided an even greater opportunity for cultural exchange among a
wider variety of Indian peoples. Their need to identify with other Indians encouraged
them to seek mutual "Indian-ness" in inter-tribal powwows.
From Alaska to Florida to Southern California to Maine and everywhere in between,
wherever there is a pocket of Indians, there are powwows. The powwow circuit is
analogous to the professional rodeo, golf and tennis circuits. Following the powwow
circuits is a year-round way of life for many Indians.
The central, most significant, focal point of any powwow is the drum and singers.
They provide the musical accompaniment and set the tempo for the dances. Powwow
dancing is the most visible part of the powwow. The men's fancy dance and women's
fancy shawl dance are both recent innovations that began less than a century ago. In
addition to these two dances other dance categories include the northern men's
traditional dance, southern men's straight dance, men's grass dance, women's
northern/southern traditional dance, and women's jingle dress dance.
The powwow has become popular all across North America and has spread into
Europe. The event has faced many changes since its inception. Individual tribal
identity has become less identifiable in songs, dances, and the regalia that are worn
today. As Indian people continue to live with the values of both the modern world and
their Indian background, these influences will continue to affect the evolution of the
powwow.