2.3 Social Dances and Powwows

Native American social dances are deeply rooted in tribal traditions, serving spiritual and cultural purposes. These dances celebrate important events like successful hunts and harvests. Powwows emerged as intertribal gatherings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often honoring returning veterans.

Powwows feature various dance categories, including traditional, fancy, and jingle dress dances. Music is integral, with drum groups providing accompaniment. These gatherings serve multiple functions, from preserving traditions to fostering community bonds and educating non-Native audiences about Native American culture.

Native American Social Dances and Powwows

Origins of Native American dances

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• Native American social dances deeply rooted in various tribal traditions and ceremonies serving spiritual, social, and cultural purposes within tribes
• Dances performed to celebrate successful hunts, harvests (corn, buffalo), or other important events (weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies)
• Powwows emerged as intertribal gatherings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
  • Early powwows often held to celebrate the return of Native American veterans from wars (World War I, World War II)
  • Powwows evolved over time to include a wider range of social, cultural, and ceremonial activities (dancing competitions, cultural demonstrations, arts and crafts markets)

Categories of powwow dances

• Traditional dances
  • Men's Traditional Dance: Dancers wear regalia reflecting their tribe's warrior traditions (eagle feather bustles, beaded vests, moccasins)
  • Women's Traditional Dance: Dancers wear long, fringed dresses and dance with a graceful, swaying motion (buckskin dresses, shawls, fans)
• Fancy dances
  • Men's Fancy Dance: Dancers wear colorful regalia with bustles and dance with fast, intricate footwork (spinning, leaping, backflips)
  • Women's Fancy Shawl Dance: Dancers wear colorful shawls and dance with spinning and leaping movements (elaborate beadwork, fringed shawls)
• Jingle Dress Dance
  • Women wear dresses adorned with metal cones creating a jingling sound as they dance (hundreds of metal cones, colorful ribbons)
  • Dance believed to have originated as a healing dance among the Ojibwe people (inspired by a dream, used in prayer for healing)

Music in Native American dances

• Drumming and singing integral parts of Native American social dances and powwows
  • Drum groups, consisting of several singers and drummers, provide musical accompaniment for dances (large, group-played drums)
  • Songs often passed down through generations and may have spiritual or cultural significance (honor songs, prayer songs, victory songs)
• Different drum groups may have distinct styles and repertoires
  • Northern and Southern style singing and drumming are two main traditions found at powwows (higher pitched vs. lower pitched singing, faster vs. slower tempos)
• Singers use vocables, or non-lexical syllables, in their songs (hey-ya, way-ha, yo-ho)
  • Vocables often used in place of or alongside words in Native American songs (convey emotion, set rhythm)

Functions of powwows in communities

• Powwows serve as important gatherings for Native American communities to come together and celebrate culture and heritage
  • Provide opportunities for social interaction, cultural exchange, and strengthening community bonds (reuniting with friends and family, making new connections)
  • Often include vendor markets where Native American artists and craftspeople can sell their work (jewelry, pottery, textiles, paintings)
• Powwows play a role in preserving and passing on Native American traditions to younger generations
  • Youth can learn dances, songs, and other cultural practices by participating in powwows (dance classes, drum workshops)
  • Many powwows include specific events and categories for young dancers to encourage their involvement (tiny tots, junior divisions)
• Powwows can also serve as a means of cultural education and outreach to non-Native audiences
  • Some powwows open to the public, providing opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding (cultural demonstrations, educational exhibits)