Powwow Talk

[Josiah]

I have been reading the forums on this website that have mentioned differences in Powwows depending on the part of the of the country and tribe that is hosting
Anyway I have a curiosity about this...
I have been to Powwows mostly in Oklahoma and New Mexico mostly they are similiar.
But my Point to this is this:
OKlahoma Powwows for instance the Drum is usually in the center, there is not set way to enter the arena meaning you dont have a opening to the east and everybody enters that way. I know that usually during contests the drums will be off to the side to give more room for the dancers. At big Powwows there will be an arbor set up around the arena. These are generalities and i am sure there are other things that i missed.

I moved to Georgia last year and right away i saw differences in the Powwows around Georgia, North and South Carolina
the drum is only in the center if there is Gourd Dancing and i only know of 3 all year that do that. Most arenas are set up with either one or four fixed openings into the arena and you are expected to only enter that way and a big deal was made of going all the way around the arena, made for long giveaways!. No arbors are set up at all, usually haybales or rope is used to mark the arena.
I saw other differnces but those stuck out the most...

I am curious to hear of other powwows accross the country in the North Country and the Northeast
and lets not forget California and the West Coast!!

[Josiah]

i ran across this post i did several years ago and in light of some recent posts about this very subject
Was curious if the different parts of the Country have different layouts of the Arena
POST Your Area and what you have seen

[Tom Iron Eagle]

Logistics is the word today.

For those of us well over 60 we can remember that there was some traditon and protocol on where the Arbor and Fire (those that remember keeping a Fire too) was at an event.

Some had an Arbor to the side and a Fire in the middle, others had a Fire to the side and an Arbor in the middle and still others had both the Arbor and the Fire to the side. Of course this was the old days when the people putting on the event usually owned the land and could do whatever they wanted with the Arbor and the Fire.

Then many stop doing the Fire because of issues with the grounds being owned by somebody else or a Fire is not allowed at some public grounds, city parks, etc.

Where the Arbor is in this day and age depends mostly on the logistics of the grounds and not any kind of tradition or protocol. Very few events actually own the land on which the event is held and they must comply with the village, city, county, state and or federal laws regarding the use of the land.

For example something as simple as a Drum Arbor can easily be called a building project in many municipalities across the country.

And finally the biggest issue on where the Arbor goes for today's events is mainly decided by nothing more than space.

[superndngyrl]

In AZ, its kinda like how you described. If they gourd dance (usually) then the drum goes in the center. After gourd dance then the drums all move to spots around the arena. For some pow-wows they set up arbors all the way around and u have to squeeze and shimmy to get up to the arena. A lot of times they don't leave any openings. Good luck going to the O and then trying to navigate back to your chair or back to the arena.

Some dances are better than others though.

[Josiah]

In AZ, its kinda like how you described. If they gourd dance (usually) then the drum goes in the center. After gourd dance then the drums all move to spots around the arena. For some pow-wows they set up arbors all the way around and u have to squeeze and shimmy to get up to the arena. A lot of times they don't leave any openings. Good luck going to the O and then trying to navigate back to your chair or back to the arena.

Some dances are better than others though.

I know what you are talking about...
Comanche Fair was like that this year you had to kinda go in a maze of chairs turning left and right till you finally got to the arena
LOL

[WhoMe]

Josi,

I went to a powwow in California recently where families and drum groups brought their own shades. There was a double row around the arena but everybody had a place to go to. The shades placed side-by-side created an arbor look.

The only problem is that it was windy and a couple of shades took off like parachutes.

[bahnisiain]

a lot of the small pow wows here in CT there is a fire in the center of the arena and arbor is in the east. Everyone enters and exits thru the arbor. the Mohegan Wigwam festival is like that but when it comes time to exit the arena, its more like free range exiting, meaning exit where there is space. the drums were on the edge of the arena.

[Josiah]

Josi,

I went to a powwow in California recently where families and drum groups brought their own shades. There was a double row around the arena but everybody had a place to go to. The shades placed side-by-side created an arbor look.

The only problem is that it was windy and a couple of shades took off like parachutes.

You know its funny but I dont see those that often here in Oklahoma!
We went over to a Powwow after labor day, at the Shawnee's Dance grounds in Seneca.
As far as the eye could see there were these shades set up. The Shawnees have a nice permanent dance grounds and they also have built a permanent arbor, but it is not continuous so in the gaps there were these shades popped up. I have also heard of people say that they have seen those all over the place in other parts of the country

But down in Oklahoma you just don't see them set up near the arena. The traders use them but nobody else.
I set mine up at Indian Hills this year but we made sure we were way back and I am here to tell you it about melted! LOL
They need to call that place FIRE HILLS

[WhoMe]

You know its funny but I dont see those that often here in Oklahoma!

One thing I used to see in Oklahoma was people would preset their chairs before the powwow and go to their camps or go get dressed and come back..... only to find someone moved them one row back and took their place!

Any of you ever had that done to you or see it done to someone else?

[Josiah]

One thing I used to see in Oklahoma was people would preset their chairs before the powwow and go to their camps or go get dressed and come back..... only to find someone moved them one row back and took their place!

Any of you ever had that done to you or see it done to someone else?

Oh that still goes on.
They just blame it on the wind, Have not seen anyone come to blows yet but some bickering thats all.
They use rope or ribbon even tape to mark off there chairs
and area.
Its why us Gourd Dancers get a good seat, we get there early!
We always are asked to bring extra chairs so that friends can get up close to the arena
LOL