Discover The Unique Existence Of 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.

Going back as to how it started, the powwow is termed for a healing ceremony that is executed by religious leaders. However, how it started was still part of the commonly asked questions by people, yet no answer is served. As most of them are big believers in both physical existence and spiritual, the existence of powwow has served as an entertainment and a way of healing for every native. It is mostly celebrated during the summer and spring months.

It has started as a religious celebration for believers to acquire wisdom and to celebrate the creator, Wakan Tanka. However, it has mainly been changing over the years. Today, it is celebrated as a social gathering that includes competitions through dances, and religious acts are still performed. Perhaps, it did not deeply change its overall practice, but it only evolved and with additional activities that would be more engaging for more natives.

Ceremonies would typically include dancing, social connection, food, chants, instrumental situations through the beat of the drums, and the healing. Fortunately, this tradition still exists today. The natives have continued this tradition for the future generation to experience it on their own. Powwows are mostly celebrated in areas where there is a high population of Native American tribes. However, some powwows would provide educational lessons for those people who are situated in different areas around the country.

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.

Ceremonies would also include a dancing tradition that is associated with pleasing and attractive clothing. Such as the straight dance that has intricately tailored southern dance clothing. This reassures solidity, as everything looks matched and completely planned. There are also cloth dancing, fancy shawl dancing, fancy feather dancing, grass dancing, gourd dancing and jingle dancing. What makes these extraordinary is how they would tailor the clothing with complicated detailing. Each dress has its effect, objective and the differences in origins.

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.

The importance of preserving a culture and has been out of the context in modern living. People today would rather argue over a certain belief that settled for it. Renewal of heritage is important for various reasons. One is to reestablish the given identity and help in rebuilding the cultural image. It facilitates people to further understand local pride, spirit and what you truly believe in.




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