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Pow Wow Dances |
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Men's Traditional Dance This dance dates back to a time when hunters/warriors
would act out their adventures upon returning home. Men's
traditional dancers often wear a bustle of eagle feathers.
Men's Grass Dance Colorful fringe or yarn (where grass once was used) and a
hair roach distinguish the Grass dancers. These dancers move
their heads quickly from side to side or up and down.
Men's Fancy Dance
In this modern dance, dancers build on the traditional double
step movement, adding speed, jumps and spins. Fancy dancers
often wear two feather bustles.
Women's Traditional Dance
Bobbing ever so slightly, these dancers bend and straighten
their knees. Some carry a feather fan or single feather that
they raise at certain points throughout the dance.
Women's Shawl Dance
This energetic dance uses footwork similar to that of the
Men's Fancy Dance. Dancers incorporate their shawls into the
dance as they spin, twist and hop.
Jingle
Dress Dance
You won't
have a problem identifying Jingle Dress dancers. Their cloth
dresses are covered with hundreds of metal cones that ring as
they move. |
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Lakota Culture
On our Lakota Culture page you'll find information
about books, movies, art and cultural activities that will give you a
better understanding of Lakota culture.
Q. What is a pow wow? What was its
original meaning and how does that differ today?
A. Originally, a pow wow, or wacipi in
Lakota, was held in the spring to celebrate the new beginning of life.
It was a time for people to get together, sing, dance, renew old
friendships and make new ones. Pow wows had religious significance
also; they were an opportunity for families to hold naming and
honoring ceremonies. In the Sioux (Lakota, Nakota, Dakota) tradition,
the celebration was also a prayer to Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit or
Grandfather. Some trace the word pow wow to the Algonquin language.
Today, pow wows are still very much a
part of the lives of many Native Americans. From June through
September there are several pow wows -somewhere- every weekend. Many
families pack up and follow the pow wow trail, camping out and
enjoying the traditional celebration activities.
Q. What is the Grand Entry?
A. The Grand Entry, borrowed from
rodeos and Wild West shows, is the parade of dancers which opens each
session of dancing and also the time for all dance contestants to
score points and show off their style and regalia. All the dancers
competing in a pow wow are required to take part in the Grand Entry.
First the Eagle staff is carried into
the circle by a male traditional dancer, followed by the American,
state, and tribal flags carried by an honor guard of veterans. Then
the royalty, title holders from other contests, enter. They are
followed by the men: traditional dancers first, then grass dancers and
finally fancy dancers. Women come next: traditional dancers, fancy
shawl dancers and jingle dress dancers. They're followed by junior
boys, junior girls, little boys, and little girls, all in the same
order as the adults.
The dancers dance sun wise (clockwise)
around the arbor, showing the audience, the singers and the other
dancers that they are dressed and ready to dance, showing off their
outfits (the term "costume" is considered derogatory) and their steps.
When Grand Entry song ends there is a
flag song and an invocation blessing of the gathering. After that, the
eagle staff (always positioned above the American flag to signify the
first nation) is tied to the pole in the center of the arbor. Then the
dancing can begin!
Q. What is a drum?
A. Drums can come from a variety of
sources. Some are handed down in a family, others are donated to a
drum group. Drums are made of deer, elk, horse or buffalo hides.
The drum is more than just a musical
instrument. To those who own and play it, it has a life of its own.
Some drum groups have gone through ceremonies and had their drum
blessed and named, and the drum is regarded as a man with its own
powerful spirit. Gifts are made to the drum and some drums even have
their own sacred medicine pipes. In some traditions the drum
symbolizes the heartbeat; in others, the powerful medicine of thunder.
Regardless of tradition, the drum must
always be treated with respect as a sacred thing. Nothing is ever set
on a drum, nor does anyone reach across it. Many drums even have their
own song, which is frequently sung as a warm-up at the beginning of
the pow wow.
The basic drum beats include the roll,
a very fast drum beat; the parade beat, a slow, steady processional
beat; the Omaha beat, the most frequently used dance beat; and the
social dance beat, which is strongly accented and ranges from medium
to fast.
The term drum can also refer to the
drum group itself.
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Read It |
Ten Little Indians by Sherman Alexie
Lakota Woman by Richard Erdoes with Mary Crow
Dog
The Antelope Wife by Louise Edrich
On The Rez by Ian Frazier
For Children:
Paul Goble's series of children's books that beautifully illustrate
Lakota legends. Not to be missed are the
Iktomi stories
about the famous Lakota Trickster.
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See It |
Skins
starring Eric Schweig, Graham Greene. Directed by Chris Eyre.
Smoke Signals starring Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene
Bedard, Gary Farmer.
Directed by Chris Eyre.
Dance Me Outside starring
Ryan Rajendra Black,
Adam Beach. Directed by
Bruce McDonald.
Powwow Highway starring A.
Martinez, Gary Farmer. Directed by Jonathan Wacks |
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