Pow-Wow time is the Native American people’s way of meeting
together, to join in dancing, signing, and visiting renewing old friendships and
make new ones.
This is a time to renew thought of the old ways and to
preserve a rich heritage.
Pow-Wow singers are very important figures in the Native
American culture. Without them there would be no dancing. The songs are of many
varieties, from religion to war to social. As various tribes gathered together,
they would share their sings, often changing the songs so signers of different
tribes could join. With these changes came the use of “vocables” to replace the
words of the old songs. Thus, some songs today are sung in vocables with no
words. Yet they still hold special meaning to those who know the song. Many
songs are still sung in native tongue either newly composed or revivals of old
songs. These songs are reminders to the Indian people of their ways of rich
heritage.
Dancers have always been a very important part of the life
of the American Indian. Most dancers seen at the Pow-Wows today are social
dances which might have had different meanings in earlier days.
Although dance
styles and content have changes, their meaning and importance has not.
The
outfits worn by dancers, like the style of clothing today evolve over time; it
is not a stagnant culture, but a vibrant and changing way of life.
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