While Indian tribes first became well distinguished during the civil war, most have become better known since that time. As the cultural and historical aspects of Native Americans are not generally taught in public schools, most individuals learn about this history through various events such as annual gatherings held by different tribes. While Native american pow wows are quite popular, there are several tribes whom have claimed to have hosted the first pow wow.
The primary aspect of the early pow wows were public dances similar to those taking place at pow wows today. These events were a common practice of tribes residing in the Great Plains. As to which tribe held the first pow wow, that continues to remain a mystery. What is known, is that these were trying times for the Native Americans as the United States had already began fragmenting the tribes in an attempt to acquire land for economic growth and development.
While laws were created to limit these celebrations by Native American communities, many tribes continued to gather together to practice cultural aspects of the tribes in secret. As a result, new pow wows began taking place in the Great Lakes region by the 19th century. After which, the celebrations began to spread across the United States with different tribes celebrating and holding pow wows on an annual basis.
Planning and organizing this type of event often begins several months up to a year before an event. In most cases, a organizational and planning committee consist of tribal leaders. Whereas, sponsors often include Native American clubs, communities, organizations and Native American Studies programs at different colleges and universities.
Committees often consist of several individuals whom pre-plan the event in entirety. After which, the committee then begins to organize different aspects of the pow-wow. Most importantly, the committee is responsible for hiring staff, securing a location, recruiting vendors, organizing volunteers and publicizing the event.
Staff are the people whom run the gathering on a day to day basis during the event. These individuals are often hired by the committee several months in advance in order to assure staff receives the proper training and that individuals can handle the work load. For, the quality of staff each year can often play an integral role in the attendance at future events.
Most pow wows have an arena director whom is in charge during the event. Sometimes known as a whip man, the whip man is the director's assistant though there are a number of gatherings which do not have a whip man. When this is the case, the arena director often takes on the role of assistant and director.
In the case of events which hold contests, most arena directors ask a different individual to act as head judge. For, it is important that judges have no special bias towards contestants. As such, if the arena director were to know contestants from the local tribe hosting the pow wow, any votes for those individuals could be considered a conflict of interest.
The primary aspect of the early pow wows were public dances similar to those taking place at pow wows today. These events were a common practice of tribes residing in the Great Plains. As to which tribe held the first pow wow, that continues to remain a mystery. What is known, is that these were trying times for the Native Americans as the United States had already began fragmenting the tribes in an attempt to acquire land for economic growth and development.
While laws were created to limit these celebrations by Native American communities, many tribes continued to gather together to practice cultural aspects of the tribes in secret. As a result, new pow wows began taking place in the Great Lakes region by the 19th century. After which, the celebrations began to spread across the United States with different tribes celebrating and holding pow wows on an annual basis.
Planning and organizing this type of event often begins several months up to a year before an event. In most cases, a organizational and planning committee consist of tribal leaders. Whereas, sponsors often include Native American clubs, communities, organizations and Native American Studies programs at different colleges and universities.
Committees often consist of several individuals whom pre-plan the event in entirety. After which, the committee then begins to organize different aspects of the pow-wow. Most importantly, the committee is responsible for hiring staff, securing a location, recruiting vendors, organizing volunteers and publicizing the event.
Staff are the people whom run the gathering on a day to day basis during the event. These individuals are often hired by the committee several months in advance in order to assure staff receives the proper training and that individuals can handle the work load. For, the quality of staff each year can often play an integral role in the attendance at future events.
Most pow wows have an arena director whom is in charge during the event. Sometimes known as a whip man, the whip man is the director's assistant though there are a number of gatherings which do not have a whip man. When this is the case, the arena director often takes on the role of assistant and director.
In the case of events which hold contests, most arena directors ask a different individual to act as head judge. For, it is important that judges have no special bias towards contestants. As such, if the arena director were to know contestants from the local tribe hosting the pow wow, any votes for those individuals could be considered a conflict of interest.
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Check out the official website of the highly acclaimed musicians, the Native American Pow Wows, by referring to this web page at http://www.thunderingspiritfamily.com/performers.