Powwow Culture

727 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Influence europeans had on native indians

The Plains region extends from south Canada into modern-day Mexico and from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. The relatively large area hosts many Native American tribes, which includes the Comanche, Kiowa, and Pawnee just to name a few. One of the biggest events and aspects of Plains region culture is what is known as the Powwow. This event is what makes this region unique and will be the main focus of this part of the essay. The concept of a Powwow has changed over time due to cultural shifts within Native American communities and the introduction of European settlers. In the modern era of the Powwow, the event is used for all Plains tribes to come together and celebrate their pride and culture. The event itself is extremely …show more content…

The first one that will be described is the traditional song structure. This includes a lead, second lead, primary verse, secondary verse, and a stop or tail. Within this structure different aspects of the song are introduced and performed. It starts out with one male singer, transitions to all of the men singing, and then finally all of the female singers join in during the primary verse and continue until the song repeats. The repeat occurs after the second verse and is known as a “start” on the Southern Plains and a “push up” on the Northern Plains. Honor beats also play a key role in the song structure. For a Southern Plains song there are usually only three honor beats, which occur between the primary and secondary verses. A Northern plains song can have anywhere from three to twelve honor beats within a song and these are placed three fourths of the way through the secondary verse. A second type of musical structure is what is known as a ruffle dance. Both Northern and Southern plains tribes perform these songs and the structures are practically the same, minus the vocal range. The song is performed by alternating between a ruffle, which is random loud beats of the drum, and even beats. Transitions between ruffles and even beats can also have a change in tempo as heard in CD 1 track

Show More
Related

  • Simon Pokagon Speech

    572 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1893, Simon Pokagon spoke at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. He was a prominent tribal leader who was known for this speech. So much so, it was printed and turned into an informative pamphlet. The speech encompassed American history and it’s push Westward, detailing the destruction of the Native lands and culture forever. He begins by telling the crowd about how he cannot celebrate with them in this great big new city, because it reminds him of all that was lost. Pokagon states, “where stands this “Queen City of the West” once stood the red man’s wigwams;” (Page 32). A bold statement follows about how nature was plentiful, until pale face came with their

    Read More

  • Settlement of Lumberport, West Virginia

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the Europeans first migrated to America, they didn’t know much about the ancestral background of the different types of the Indian tribes that were settled in Virginia and along the East Coast. Many of the Indian tribes became hostile towards the colonist because the colonists were interfering with their way of life. This lead the natives to attempt to destroy the frontier settlements. Many forts in this area were erected to protect the settlers and their families. One the historical land...

    Read More

  • Explaination of Horse Culture in Plains Indians Summaries by Hämäläinen

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the introduction, Hämäläinen introduces how Plains Indians horse culture is so often romanticized in the image of the “mounted warrior,” and how this romanticized image is frequently juxtaposed with the hardships of disease, death, and destruction brought on by the Europeans. It is also mentioned that many historians depict Plains Indians equestrianism as a typical success story, usually because such a depiction is an appealing story to use in textbooks. However, Plains Indians equestrianism is far from a basic story of success. Plains equestrianism was a double-edged sword: it both helped tribes complete their quotidian tasks more efficiently, but also gave rise to social issues, weakened the customary political system, created problems between other tribes, and was detrimental to the environment.

    Read More

  • The Powhatan Tribe

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever heard of the Powhatan tribe? If not let me share a little fact about them. Powhatan means “waterfall” in the Virginia Algonquian language. The Powhatans didn't live in tepees. They lived in small roundhouses called wigwams, or in larger Iroquois-style longhouses. Another fact is Powhatan warriors used tomahawks or wooden war clubs. They also carried shields. Powhatan hunters used bows and arrows. If you would like to learn more about the Powhatan tribe please continue reading this paper. You will learn all about the Powhatan and how they lived. Enjoy.

    Read More

  • Jackson Turner Frontier In American History

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    Frontier in American History is divided in two major parts each with an introduction. The first part claims that the gradual settlement of the west is what forms American History. In the following four paragraphs the frontier is explained in details. The frontier is viewed as a moving belts

    Read More

  • Dennis Banks

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    Banks, D., Erodes, R. (2004). Dennis Banks and the Rise of the American Indian Movement. Ojibwa Warrior. Retrieved January 20, 2005, from http://www.oupress.com/bookdetail.asp?isbn=0-8061-3580-8

    Read More

  • Southeastern Native American Literature

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    Native American literature from the Southeastern United States is deeply rooted in the oral traditions of the various tribes that have historically called that region home. While the tribes most integrally associated with the Southeastern U.S. in the American popular mind--the FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole)--were forcibly relocated to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) from their ancestral territories in the American South, descendents of those tribes have created compelling literary works that have kept alive their tribal identities and histories by incorporating traditional themes and narrative elements. While reflecting profound awareness of the value of the Native American past, these literary works have also revealed knowing perspectives on the meaning of the modern world in the lives of contemporary Native Americans.

    Read More

  • The Culture Of The Marshallese Culture

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    When it comes to raising children, the culture is somewhat different than that of Americans. Infants are typically nursed until the age of two or three or until an older sibling is born. Around the age of four or five the children are required to begin helping around the house. They do things such as help with younger siblings, run errands, and do small chores here and there. The young boys of the family are typically allowed to do some exploring as well as helping with fishing and gathering. All children attend school and go from grade one to grade eight. They normally are taught reading, English, and arithmetic. If a student is very advanced they have the opportunity to take a test to find out if they are able to go to high school in Majuro.

    Read More

  • Native Americans

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    expansion on the native Americans of the Great Plains in the mid-19th century." History today. no. 4 (2006): 42.

    Read More

  • Powhatan Indians Research Paper

    1268 Words  | 3 Pages

    IN contrast, the Powhatan were different because they would sent the boys to live in the forest when they were sixteen. The boys would live by themselves for two years, then come back to the village, they were also told to forget about their previous lives, and would not be able to visit or talk to the members of their family. Girls lives were much more different than boys. Girls had to learn how to cook, sew, and care for small children. In addition, unlike lot’s of other tribes, it was the women that tended the crops and built the houses. In fact Powhatan girls would get married when they were thirteen or fourteen. The Powhatan Indians lived peaceful lives having some feuds here and there but would resolve them at the end. They were happy with what they had, and did not realize that their lives were soon going to be changed. When the Indians first met the pioneers they had demanded to see their leader, this brash man was named John Smith. Smith had come on boat and told the Indians that he and his pioneers were taking the land, well image that, would you just leave out of your house when someone tells you to, I wouldn’t, and neither would the Indians, so they

    Read More

  • Powwow Dance Research Paper

    183 Words  | 1 Pages

    The competitive nature of the powwow dance competition and the intertribal nature of the newer dances is diluting American Indian culture resulting in the additional loss of traditional beliefs and practice. Because they are more likely changing the meaning to do the competition. Originally, the powwow competition was supposed to being very spiritual thing. However, by coming new dance style such as fancy dance into the competition, the competition became less spiritual but also more focus on entertainment and make more revenue.

    Read More

  • Diary Of A Part-Time Indian And Powwow At The End Of The World

    1067 Words  | 3 Pages

    Powwow at the End of the World is told through a repetitious line, followed by the next section of the story. This story compares the journey of a salmon and the narrator's culture to show how culture can help he or she and eventually change them in a positive manner. "Throws a lightning bolt at the brush near my feet, and starts the fire which will lead all of the lost Indians home." (Alexie lines 18-20) This states how the salmon started the fire that led the lost Indians home, resulting in a positive change for the Indians. In the quote, "That salmon who has three stories to tell before sunrise: one story will teach us how to pray; another story will make us laugh for hours; the third story will give us reason to dance." (Alexie lines 22-25), the cultural salmon gives the Indians three stories to tell at the fire, all of which have a positive attitude. These positive stories make an impact on the Indians and give them reason to change. Because the stories are all positive it is inevitable that their change they experience is positive. Through this poem, the journey of the salmon shows how the culture of these Indians has a positive effect on them. It includes stories and acts of kindness the "salmon" did for these Indians which in the end, helps and gives them opportunity to change in a positive

    Read More

  • The Subjugation Of The American West

    1214 Words  | 3 Pages

    The movement westward during the late 1800’s created new tensions among already strained relations with current Native American inhabitants. Their lands, which were guaranteed to them via treaty with the United States, were now beginning to be intruded upon by the massive influx of people migrating from the east. This intrusion was not taken too kindly, as Native American lands had already been significantly reduced due to previous westward conquest. Growing resentment for the federal government’s Reservation movement could be felt among the native population. One Kiowa chief’s thoughts on this matter summarize the general feeling of the native populace. “All the land south of the Arkansas belongs to the Kiowas and Comanches, and I don’t want to give away any of it” (Edwards, 203). His words, “I don’t want to give away any of it”, seemed to a mantra among the Native Americans, and this thought would resound among them as the mounting tensions reached breaking point.

    Read More

  • Tecumseh And The Quest For Indian Leadership Summary

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Shawnees were a patrilineal tribe meaning they are traced through the males of the family. Although men were a main part of the culture, each village had an informal group of women who governed certain tribal rituals and set dates for many activities. Women were also allowed to save captives and prisoners. This practice was foreign to the time period because women do not usually have a voice. Children are inferior and are required to learn the ways to be able to be an active part in the tribe when they become adults. After many years the Shawnees were more dependent on the outside, yet they still followed a lifestyle based on hunting and gathering.

    Read More

  • American Folk Culture

    1334 Words  | 3 Pages

    Folk culture is practiced by dances and festivals every day. At each festival, there is always an Indian dance which can consist of a man and woman dancing together or separately depending on the dance. During every dance, the dancer normally sings the song and there is someone else who plays an instrument. Each dance has a separate rhythm and costume, the costumes are usually very colorful with many jewels and designs. There are different dances practiced in many different parts if India. In Central India, Gaur is a very popular folk dance. Men have head-dresses with cowries strung off the sides and peacock feathers all over as they make their way to the dance floor. Women have brass fillets, bead necklaces and tattoos all over there body and also join the dance. In East India, Chhau is most commonly practiced. This dance is only performed by men and boys, and is performed with energy and strength. Everybody dancing holds swords and shields, and the stages are

    Read More

More about Powwow Culture

Open Document