Every weekend throughout the summer, the Pow Wow has become the heartbeat pulsing tempo of drum groups reverberating across North America. Men, women, and children gather in communities across the continent, in intense celebration of what it means to be Native.
What is a Pow Wow?? The word itself comes from the old Algonquin word for "medicine man, pauwow, he dreams." A Pow Wow is still a ceremony that sets a person to dreaming of the old days, the old ways, most of all, the future.
A Pow Wow calls up the tempo of times past. In the summers, tents and lodges converge on one campground. The Pow Wow gathers strength over the next two to four days and nights. From the time the first tent is pitched, or the first person arrives, the Pow Wow gains momentum, just as it did in the old days.
Like the ceremonies performed by the ancient medicine man, the Pow Wow is a healing and unifying ritual. It is a time of singing and dancing, crying and teaching, learning and loving. By remembering the past, it celebrates the future.
The celebration is done with dancing and dress. The Natives are very proud of their culture. As soon as the drum groups begin, the dancers gather in full tribal regalia.
There are few tribal demarcations now. The tribes are eager for great pan-Native festivels where differences have all but disappeared.
The singers chant the inter-tribal songs, and with the Grand Entry, the Pow Wow officially begins.
The Grand Entry
The Grand Entry signals the start of the Pow Wow and brings together the singers, drummers, and dancers who participate in the celebration. It sets aside a special time for showing respect to the various dancers and their styles of dancing and is a time for remembering our values, our country, and our Creator.
The eagle staff is the oldest of the indian symbols, harkening back to the day of the famous dog soldiers, the most vlaiant warriors of the plains. Only the dog soldiers, and only the highest ranked among them, were originally allowed to carry the staff.
This tradition of valour remains even today. The eagle staffs are the flags for the Native nation(s) and recieve the same degree of respect that war veterans accord to the Canadian and American flags. Today the staffs are carried into the Pow Wow by one who has earned the right in battle (war veterans), by one who has earned the honor in the eyes of the Pow Wow committee, or by an owner of the eagle staff.
Though the feathers of the eagle are often unavailable in these days, the eagle staff is made according to the old traditions. "Eagle" feathers are attached singlely to a long narrow strip of felt or thong. The strip of feathers is then affixed at bothe ends to a slendor pole. the magnificent result is the eagle staff--fitting flag for the Native nations.
A special song is used by the host (or designated) drum to bring in the dancers in the Grand Entry. The dancers are expected to carry themselves proudly, with dignity, and respect for the eagle staff. After all the dancers are in, the flags are raised or lowered (depending on the time of day) to the accompaniment of special songs, i.e. the Native National Anthems (the Canadian and American flag songs). At times, veteran or Air Force songs may also be called for after the flag songs.
Most Pow Wows maintain the folowing order of entrance: the eagle staff together with the Canadian and American flag leading the procession, indian princesses and braves (representing different recervations/organizations), Elders, the traditional dancers, grass dancers, fancy dancers, juniors and tiny tots categories. In some instances, the order may be shuffled to highlight certain categories i.e. children, but generally the order is manintained. An Elder speaks the prayer for the day............and the Pow Wow begins.
