"The tribes who still live the traditional way of life believe that nature and the Indian people spoke the same language. They believe that nature was the guide and provider for the tribe and that nature gave each tribe power and its own unique identity. The tribes developed dances around the animals and natural forces in which they believed. It is those dances that are danced at pow-wows."
Gathering of Nations, A PowWow Experience
Ever been to a pow-wow? I have and it was beautiful. And I hope to one day go again. I was raised in the Black experience, but per my Mother and Father I do have Native American ancestry. My mother’s family mainly from Kentucky could possible carry the blood of Shawnee Indians and my father’s people, mainly creoles from Louisiana and later Texas, carry the blood of the Chitimacha Indians. Many others do as well, yet how many people outside of active Native American tribesmen actually know what that means.
What does it mean to be a Native American in the 21st century? We read about their history in our biased history books, but few of us know much else about the original inhabitants of North America. A Pow-Wow won’t tell you everything you need to know about their culture, just like listening to rap music will not tell you everything about the African-American experience. But a Pow-Wow can give you a glimpse of the Native American world.
About seven years ago my ex and I decided we wanted to learn more, and we booked a trip to the annual Gathering of Nations, the largest pow-wow in North America. Held each spring in Albuquerque, New Mexico, thousands of people and hundreds of tribes descended on the pit at the University of New Mexico for a competition of traditional dance and fierce drum beats. It was a weekend event that began with a Drum Roll Call and a Miss Indian World Competition and ended with a colorful closing ceremony and an announcement of contest winners.
During the pow-wow, my ex and I were delighted to see the young and old of tribes from Canada and all over the United States dressed in brightly colored feathered headdresses and buckskin costumes decorated with beading, elk teeth, and shells. The actual pow-wow started with The Grand Entry in which there was the beat of a drum followed by a powerful song and the participants rolled in. They proceeded into the arena from all sides and they moved in a clockwise circle, representing the unity of life and the path of the sun across the sky. Soon after, the competition and dancing began.
The pow-wow started Friday afternoon and lasted well into the night and concluded Saturday afternoon. Each hour we were treated to a new category of dance like the Grass Dance, Men’s Northern Traditional, Men’s Fancy, The Kiowa Gourd Dance, Women’s Jingle, and Women’s Fancy Shawl. Most of the dances come complete with a genesis-like story, which my ex and I read about in our Gathering of Nations Official Souvenir Program.
As exciting as the pow-wow was, he and I also enjoyed a visit to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway, Founder’s Day in Historic Old Town Albuquerque and a little club hopping at the annual Downtown Crawl. He and I had such a great fun filled cultural experience that we even considered relocating to Albuquerque permanently.
I highly recommend the Gathering for anyone and everyone, and if you check out their website, you’ll see that event organizers send out their invitations too; all are welcome. If you decide to go, below are some tips for you that I have from my program guide…
1. When the eagle staff is brought in during the grand entry, everyone stands and hats are removed.
2. If an eagle feather should fall during the dancing, everything will stop until a proper returning of the feather has been performed.
3. Pointing with a finger, particularly the index finger is considered impolite. It’s best to indicate a person or direction by pursing the lips and pointing with the eyes or to nod in the direction.
4. During the event, photos may be taken, but don’t use the flash during the contest. Ask permission before snapping an individual’s photograph outside the dancing.
For anyone interested you can find more information at www.gatheringofnations.com. The next Gathering takes place April 28th, 29th, and 30th, 2011. It will be held at the University of New Mexico Arena located in Albuquerque.
Gathering of Nations, A PowWow Experience
Ever been to a pow-wow? I have and it was beautiful. And I hope to one day go again. I was raised in the Black experience, but per my Mother and Father I do have Native American ancestry. My mother’s family mainly from Kentucky could possible carry the blood of Shawnee Indians and my father’s people, mainly creoles from Louisiana and later Texas, carry the blood of the Chitimacha Indians. Many others do as well, yet how many people outside of active Native American tribesmen actually know what that means.
What does it mean to be a Native American in the 21st century? We read about their history in our biased history books, but few of us know much else about the original inhabitants of North America. A Pow-Wow won’t tell you everything you need to know about their culture, just like listening to rap music will not tell you everything about the African-American experience. But a Pow-Wow can give you a glimpse of the Native American world.
About seven years ago my ex and I decided we wanted to learn more, and we booked a trip to the annual Gathering of Nations, the largest pow-wow in North America. Held each spring in Albuquerque, New Mexico, thousands of people and hundreds of tribes descended on the pit at the University of New Mexico for a competition of traditional dance and fierce drum beats. It was a weekend event that began with a Drum Roll Call and a Miss Indian World Competition and ended with a colorful closing ceremony and an announcement of contest winners.
During the pow-wow, my ex and I were delighted to see the young and old of tribes from Canada and all over the United States dressed in brightly colored feathered headdresses and buckskin costumes decorated with beading, elk teeth, and shells. The actual pow-wow started with The Grand Entry in which there was the beat of a drum followed by a powerful song and the participants rolled in. They proceeded into the arena from all sides and they moved in a clockwise circle, representing the unity of life and the path of the sun across the sky. Soon after, the competition and dancing began.
The pow-wow started Friday afternoon and lasted well into the night and concluded Saturday afternoon. Each hour we were treated to a new category of dance like the Grass Dance, Men’s Northern Traditional, Men’s Fancy, The Kiowa Gourd Dance, Women’s Jingle, and Women’s Fancy Shawl. Most of the dances come complete with a genesis-like story, which my ex and I read about in our Gathering of Nations Official Souvenir Program.
As exciting as the pow-wow was, he and I also enjoyed a visit to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway, Founder’s Day in Historic Old Town Albuquerque and a little club hopping at the annual Downtown Crawl. He and I had such a great fun filled cultural experience that we even considered relocating to Albuquerque permanently.
I highly recommend the Gathering for anyone and everyone, and if you check out their website, you’ll see that event organizers send out their invitations too; all are welcome. If you decide to go, below are some tips for you that I have from my program guide…
1. When the eagle staff is brought in during the grand entry, everyone stands and hats are removed.
2. If an eagle feather should fall during the dancing, everything will stop until a proper returning of the feather has been performed.
3. Pointing with a finger, particularly the index finger is considered impolite. It’s best to indicate a person or direction by pursing the lips and pointing with the eyes or to nod in the direction.
4. During the event, photos may be taken, but don’t use the flash during the contest. Ask permission before snapping an individual’s photograph outside the dancing.
For anyone interested you can find more information at www.gatheringofnations.com. The next Gathering takes place April 28th, 29th, and 30th, 2011. It will be held at the University of New Mexico Arena located in Albuquerque.
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