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To some native peoples
of northeastern North America, a 'powwow' was originally a man with special abilities to cure or offer advice from the spirit
world, a wizard, witch, and magician as explained earlier.
Everyone is welcome
at Powwows!
At times there is
an entry fee to help pay for the drum, electricity, insurance and so on and you will often find a wide variety of American native crafts, trade goods and food for sale; even demonstrations and storytelling as well.
It's a great place
for your entire family to spend the day.
Drugs and alcohol
are not permitted; pets must be on a leash at all times, like at a Paw-paus some powwows invite pets into a circle because
Grandfather is Creator of all!
The spiritual center
or heart of a Powwow is THE CIRCLE; a place to be respected and honored, it is a sacred place that is blessed by Creator through
a spiritual leader. The circle is entered only from the East (where there is an opening) and dancers travel in the same direction
as the sun.
The singing is a
gift and prayer to the Creator; and the drum is the heartbeat of our People. The singers and drummers together are called
THE DRUM.
Ceremonies start
with a "Grand Entry" of the dancers to pay respects to our Creator and to greet one another. Honoring songs, and dances for
veterans and our ancestors and a prayer follows. You will be asked to stand and remove your hat for these ceremonies if you
can.
Please don't take
photos or videos if you're asked not to do so; and please don't touch the clothing or personal belongings of anyone in American
native dress.
Much of what is worn
is sacred, expensive and irreplaceable, but do feel free to ask if you want to take individual pictures, or if you have a
question about a particular item that someone is wearing.
Most traditional
Native People will be pleased to assist you if they're asked first.
You will see many
types of dances at a Powwow. When you hear a 'Round Dance' or sometimes it is called a friendship dance announced, EVERYONE
will be invited to participate, so proceed to the East door of the circle and join in.
A Round (Friendship) dance is easy to learn and fun to do. |
American Native Prayer
Pouch
I have said for some 50
years now that the only dumb question is the
one that you think of, but
do not ask!
I have now been asked!
Elder traditional American
Native’s go through many years of prayer with
our Creator and other Elders
and it is at this time that sacred things are placed into
a prayer pouch, this pouch
is not the problem it is the Medicine inside that is extremely
sacred to this Elder!
Any and all American Natives,
given the chance can and should readily explain about
this belief; it is what
is inside that should not be abused!
Yes, knowledge is the best
way to counter ignorance, which leads to hatred and
disrespect and that, is
why I try to spend as much time as possible doing just that, Teaching!
What is a Native
American prayer pouch?
Not to be confused
with a Medicine pouch however, almost as sacred as one, a prayer
pouch worn by our
people is one of the many ways to help us remind our friends to send
a prayer to our Creator.
Each time one sees
a prayer pouch one should stop and say a prayer’s,
I see nothing wrong
with that?
I cannot believe
that in this day and age of enlightenment non native women
still think, or do
not think, or do not care, that it is O.K. for them to reach out
and grab our sacred
pouch and ask,
“so what do
you have in this thing”?
While teaching why
it is that I step back and cover up I get something like,
“well you should
keep it covered inside of your shirt”?
My guess is that
doing so would kind of defeat the main reason
for wearing it in
the first place, what do you think?
No traditional American
native would ever question one about their beliefs,
in fact we would
be pleased just knowing that you had beliefs.
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