Pow Wow

Great exit, 1983, Pow-wow in Omaha

Men Performing National Dance, Montana, 2007

Pow-wow (also pow-wow , powwow , pow wow or pau wau ) is a collection of Native Americans (native American, natives) who are mistakenly called "Indians". The name comes from the narragansett language, from the word powwaw , meaning "spiritual leader."

Modern Pow-Wow is a specific event at which modern U.S. residents and the indigenous population are going to dance, sing, socialize, and discuss the culture of the latter. Pow-wow dance competitions are held, often with cash prizes. Pow-wow can last from several hours to three days, and the most important Pow-wow can last up to a week.

“Pow-wow” in old American Westerns was often called any assembly of “Indians”.

Content

Organization

Native American Dancer, Seattle, 2007

Organization, as a rule, begins in a few months, or even in a year, by people who are members of the so-called Pow-Wow Committee. Pow-wow is sponsored by tribal organizations, the American Indian community within an urban area , the Native American Studies program and the American Indian club , as well as various other organizations.

Events

Start

Eagle Staff leads the Great Exit

Dance of a Girl with a Scarf, Montana, 2007

Pow-wow is usually organized in several large circles. The central circle is a dance floor, next to which there are tables, drummers and seating for dancers and their families. Nearby are circles for correspondents and viewers, next to which are shops where you can buy food, make a tattoo, buy music CDs, jewelry, souvenirs, leather goods and more ^[1] .

Opening

Pow-wow begins with the Great Exit, with prayer. A large exit is led by the Eagle Staff , accompanied by a flag, then the dancers go, an opening song is played on one of the drums. This action has a sacred origin, it is forbidden to photograph and shoot it on many Pow-Wows.

Further, the dancers enter the main circle in a special order: traditional male dances, male dance on the grass, male whim (improvisation), traditional female dances, female dance with ringing, female whim ( improvisation ). Children and adolescents are in the same order. After the Great Exit, the Ceremony Master invites a respected community member to initiate. One of the main reels that did not play the Song of the Great Exit plays the Song of Flag, followed by the Song of Victory, during which the flags are set on the table of the Ceremony Master.

Dancing

Pow-wow in Spokane, 2007

Pow-wow in Seattle

The simplest dances are circular dance , crow hop (performed to the northern drum), a horse theft song (southern drum), also “double beat”, “sneakup” and, among traditional female dances and dances with a jingle, “sidestep”.

Men's Dances

Fancy Dance or Fancy Feather Dance (Northern and Southern Styles)
Northern Traditional (in the north it is simply called "male traditional")
Southern straight
Grass dance

Female Dances

Traditional dance performer

Traditional
Buckskin and cloth
Fancy shawl
Jingle Dress (healing dance)

Music

Female drummers

Pow-wow music is a combination of drums, singing and dancing.

Drums

Good drums get the dancers out there, good songs get them to dance well. Without drum groups there is no music. No music, no dance, no powwow ^[2] .

There can be many reels on a Pow-Wow, but each Pow-Wow has a main drum that enjoys the greatest authority. Members of drum groups are often relatives, families. Groups are often called by family name, geographic location, tribal name. According to tradition, only men play the drums, and women should sit in front of them for greater harmony. Since the 1970s, women began drumming with men to the accompaniment, or singing, an octave higher, songs ^[3] . Today, there are both mixed and only female groups of drummers.

Drummer Etiquette

To understand this etiquette, you need to take into account that the drum is treated as a respected person. Etiquette is crucial. It varies from region to region. The drum is the central symbol of the Pow-Wow in Oklahoma, where they are located in the center of the dance floor (in turn, forming circles). Southern drums are placed on four cardinal points. Northern drums are placed off-site. People bring water to musicians and help in every way if necessary ^[4] .

Singing

the drum only helps them keep beat. Dancers key on the melody of the song. Rhythms, tones, pitch all help create their 'moves' ^[5] .

The structure of the song consists of four exercises , singing in a choir and four themes.

Talented singers also sing out of rhythm, putting words between the beats of the drum, not focusing on them and “this is perhaps the biggest obstacle to non-Native American understanding of Indian songs” ^[6] .

Pow-Wow in Russia

Participants Pau-wow, held in Gromovo, near St. Petersburg

Pow-wow is a large circle in the Russian Rainbow , traditionally held twice a day, morning and evening. When the common food is prepared, they start calling in unison from the main meadow to the Pow-Wow, and this call is transmitted throughout the Rainbow. All present are trying to gather at the Pow-Wow. According to tradition, on the Rainbow everyone gets in a circle, and holding hands, they sing " ohm ." After that, announcements are made in a circle, volunteers distribute cooked food.

In Russia, festivals closer to the American Pow-Wow are also held, which are much smaller in size. They are held among the so-called Indianists. Indianists study Native American culture, mainly North American tribes.

Pow-wow in Russia are held annually in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Siberia. The film “Red Power” (directed by Andrei Veter ) tells in detail about the culture of Russian Indianists.

Notes

↑ Becky Olvera Schultz (2001); Powwow Power ; “ What is a powwow and a brief history Archived July 6, 2008 on Wayback Machine ”; link checked May 3, 2006
↑ Roberts, Chris (1992). Powwow Country . ISBN 1-56037-025-4 .
↑ * Roberts, Chris (1992). Powwow Country , p. 85-89. ISBN 1-56037-025-4 .
↑ Hatton, O. Thomas (1974). "Performance Practices of Northern Plains Pow-Wow Singing Groups", p. 85-86, Anuario Interamericano de Investigacion Musical , Vol. 10, pp. 123-137.
↑ * Roberts, Chris (1992). Powwow Country , p. 85-86. ISBN 1-56037-025-4 .
↑ * Hatton, O. Thomas (1974). "Performance Practices of Northern Plains Pow-Wow Singing Groups," p. 128, Anuario Interamericano de Investigacion Musical , Vol. 10, pp. 123-137.

Hatton, O. Thomas (1974). "Performance Practices of Northern Plains Pow-Wow Singing Groups", Anuario Interamericano de Investigacion Musical , Vol. 10, pp. 123-137.
Kyi-Yo (2007). Kyi-Yo Celebration . Kyi-Yo student organization, Native American studies, University of Montana.
Nettl, Bruno (1989). Blackfoot Musical Thought: Comparative Perspectives . Ohio: The Kent State University Press. ISBN 0-87338-370-2 .
Roberts, Chris (1992). Powwow Country . ISBN 1-56037-025-4 .

[1] Becky Olvera Schultz (2001); Powwow Power ; “ What is a powwow and a brief history Archived July 6, 2008 on Wayback Machine ”; link checked May 3, 2006

[2] Roberts, Chris (1992). Powwow Country . ISBN 1-56037-025-4 .

[3] * Roberts, Chris (1992). Powwow Country , p. 85-89. ISBN 1-56037-025-4 .

[4] Hatton, O. Thomas (1974). "Performance Practices of Northern Plains Pow-Wow Singing Groups", p. 85-86, Anuario Interamericano de Investigacion Musical , Vol. 10, pp. 123-137.

[5] * Roberts, Chris (1992). Powwow Country , p. 85-86. ISBN 1-56037-025-4 .

[6] * Hatton, O. Thomas (1974). "Performance Practices of Northern Plains Pow-Wow Singing Groups," p. 128, Anuario Interamericano de Investigacion Musical , Vol. 10, pp. 123-137.