Originally, powwow started out as an Algonquin term known as Pauwau or pauau referring to a gathering together of spiritual leaders and medicine men. Pauwauing was a religious ceremony related to healing or curing individuals in the tribe. Today's Native American pow wows were born when a group of early European explorers overheard and mispronounced the word as pow wow.
Although the Massachusetts General Court outlawed the ceremonies due to what many considered to be worshiping the devil or false gods, tribes rebelled and kept the tradition alive in different areas of the country. While most often separated, the term actually does not include a hyphen or space between pow and wow. Ceremonies which existed prior to 1646 were far more sacred and spiritual than many of the powwows held on an annual basis in the United States today.
The ceremonies have evolved from a formal ceremony of the past into a blend of festival, family reunion and tribal dance. Most often famous for the beautiful and colors which are displayed along with dances, these events are now aimed at not only tribe members but the public at large.
Whether held in a small town such as White Eagle, Oklahoma or a big city such as Los Angeles, California, a pow wow can take place anywhere, even in a cow pasture. In most cases, the events are held on an annual basis, usually over a three day weekend. For, tribal members and visitors often travel from all over the country to attend these events.
For those whom attend these events, travel is part of the experience. For, the hours of travel allows individuals to grasp the feeling during the long trip and to better understand personal beliefs. Some come to the celebrations to see relatives and friends, others to sing songs and dance and others to observe and take in the atmosphere.
Individuals whom have attended these events indicate that doing so provides an overall good feeling, a feeling that is both mental and physical. As such, it is believed that this experience is part and parcel to the popularity of pow wows at the current time. Whereas, tribal members still see the event as one of the main cultural events and activities of many Native American tribes.
A tribe known as the Poncas were the first to practice a powwow ceremony, at the time known as Hethuska in 1804. The ceremony was handed down to the Kaw and then the Osage who renamed the ceremony the Inlonschka. After which, the ceremony spread northward to the Omaha and then the Lakota or Sioux tribe which in the late 1890s began popularizing the ceremony on reservations.
Known as the Omaha Grass dance once the Lakota presented the ceremonies, the ceremony became far more popular than that of the Ghost Dance during the same period. Although, unlike other dances, the Grass dancers were dancing solely for the pleasure of dance. After which, different tribal dances became a huge part of these events past and present.
Although the Massachusetts General Court outlawed the ceremonies due to what many considered to be worshiping the devil or false gods, tribes rebelled and kept the tradition alive in different areas of the country. While most often separated, the term actually does not include a hyphen or space between pow and wow. Ceremonies which existed prior to 1646 were far more sacred and spiritual than many of the powwows held on an annual basis in the United States today.
The ceremonies have evolved from a formal ceremony of the past into a blend of festival, family reunion and tribal dance. Most often famous for the beautiful and colors which are displayed along with dances, these events are now aimed at not only tribe members but the public at large.
Whether held in a small town such as White Eagle, Oklahoma or a big city such as Los Angeles, California, a pow wow can take place anywhere, even in a cow pasture. In most cases, the events are held on an annual basis, usually over a three day weekend. For, tribal members and visitors often travel from all over the country to attend these events.
For those whom attend these events, travel is part of the experience. For, the hours of travel allows individuals to grasp the feeling during the long trip and to better understand personal beliefs. Some come to the celebrations to see relatives and friends, others to sing songs and dance and others to observe and take in the atmosphere.
Individuals whom have attended these events indicate that doing so provides an overall good feeling, a feeling that is both mental and physical. As such, it is believed that this experience is part and parcel to the popularity of pow wows at the current time. Whereas, tribal members still see the event as one of the main cultural events and activities of many Native American tribes.
A tribe known as the Poncas were the first to practice a powwow ceremony, at the time known as Hethuska in 1804. The ceremony was handed down to the Kaw and then the Osage who renamed the ceremony the Inlonschka. After which, the ceremony spread northward to the Omaha and then the Lakota or Sioux tribe which in the late 1890s began popularizing the ceremony on reservations.
Known as the Omaha Grass dance once the Lakota presented the ceremonies, the ceremony became far more popular than that of the Ghost Dance during the same period. Although, unlike other dances, the Grass dancers were dancing solely for the pleasure of dance. After which, different tribal dances became a huge part of these events past and present.
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