What is a powwow? Although the term has its colloquial meaning, the event has great cultural significance for Native American communities.
In Native culture, a powwow is a ceremonial gathering that typically includes traditional music and dancing, according to the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
The events are typically a space to celebrate joy and community, but can also include rituals to embrace spirituality, the museum noted.
“At its core, powwow is an adaptive, contemporary tradition that reflects tribal and intertribal history, culture and community values,” the Smithsonian said on its website.
Here’s a deeper look at the history of powwows and why they are important to many Native Americans.
History of the term ‘powwow’
The word “powwow” comes from pau wau, or “medicine man,” in Narrtick, a language spoken by the Algonquian people of Massachusetts.
When the first English settlers arrived in the United States, they misused the word to refer to encounters with Native American physicians, and later to native gatherings, according to the Smithsonian.
Native Americans reclaimed the term and embraced more modern ceremonies in the 19th century that have roots in the Plains region of the U.S., the museum noted. In the late 19th century, the government confiscated land from many Native American tribes in the Northern and Southern Plains.
As a result, large numbers of people were forced to move and two tribal traditions emerged: the Drum Religion and the Grass Dance. The Smithsonian said these were considered precursors to the modern powwow.
In the 1900s, newspapers and advertisements began using the word powwows to describe a performance used to entertain. During World Wars I and II, powwows were held to honor Native American veterans.
As in the late 1800s, the U.S. government forced more Native American tribes to move from the Plains in the 1950s, leading to a mass migration and creating a need for ways for people to stay connected.
As a way to stay together and bring their culture to other Native American tribe members in their new homes, the Plains people used the powwow.
Today, powwows take place all over the world and can be held at any time of the year. Contemporary gatherings come in many forms, from traditional homeland gatherings to spectacles at events.
Why the clothing at a powwow has meaning
The regalia worn for a traditional Native American powwow has strong cultural significance.
According to the Smithsonian, a dancer’s powwow attire is typically made by the family to reflect their interests and heritage, in many cases incorporating family heirlooms.
Regardless of the rest of the unique look, dancers will always wear some type of headgear, which the museum said could be anything from a war bonnet or headdress to a ribbon or band.
The elements of a dancer’s regalia play a crucial role in the sacred character of the performance. The Smithsonian said that if a dancer loses part of their outfit, “there are specific ceremonies and protocols in place to ensure that the spiritual balance of the dance is not disrupted.”
The powwow regalia, dance and songs are each unique to a particular tribe. Adopting traditions from another tribe’s powwow is considered disrespectful.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
