a powwow in Oklahoma

Our final immersive step into learning more about and trying to understand the indigenous peoples of our country was to attend a two day multi-tribal powwow hosted by the Choctaw Nation in Durant, Oklahoma.  I wasn't completely sure what that meant, but it turns out that there were representatives of tribes from all over North America, including Canada and possibly Mexico.  

To be able to attend an event like this was so fascinating. Not wanting to offend anyone or to be disrespectful in any way we hardly made a peep the first day, just looked everywhere trying to soak everything in while we tried to figure out what everyone was doing, and gain some sense of what things meant. By the second day we were much more comfortable, and started asking some questions (I started asking questions in the parking lot before we even got in the building) … Everyone was very kind and helpful and seemed happy to explain things to me.

My basic understanding, is that powwows are a time for indigenous peoples to come together, recognize and honor each other, their ancestors and themselves as they enter the circle wearing their finest dress (regalia). They often have competitions in dance, song, drum circle, etc, and have vendors selling wares like blankets, t-shirts, jewelry, beads, art and food. But one of its most important aspects is that it offers an opportunity for family and friends to gather, be together and renew traditions.

This powwow was multi-generational from elders to babies. Every age group was represented and families came together to prepare and dress in the bleachers and seats around the auditorium/gymnasium/exhibit space. People dressed in regalia appropriate to their tribe or to the specific dance they were competing in.

It was a cacophony for the senses. A kaleidoscope of color and sound and movement. It was fascinating.

I hope the pics give you some sense of it all.

Our campground was at an Army Corp of Engineers reservoir and was really lovely. Check out this sunset!

The next morning we went to the powwow, not sure what to expect. We found some seats and started looking around. Many of the chairs and bleacher seats had colorful blankets draped over them demarcating peoples saved spaces. Throughout the exhibit area people were getting ready, unpacking regalia, preparing it or themselves, doing hair, make-up, donning all the complicated pieces and layers of regalia and helping others get ready as well. Once they were ready, some rested, some chatted and some were on their phones while waiting for the festivities to begin. 

waiting and watching 

tying on the headpiece 

Helping with the sash.

Waiting amongst the saved seats

bustles of the “fancy dancers’” regalia wait to be donned

They had twelve drum circles competing. Six from the north and six from the south.  I thought this was an interesting juxtaposition of traditional designs with the NY Yankees baseball cap.                    Drum circle member waits.    

A sister and brother we watched get ready just a couple of rows in front of us. They transformed from everyday teens wearing jeans and tees into these remarkable representatives of their clan who were gracious enough to allow me to take their picture. They were both so beautiful.

The Grand Entry 

The  participating indigenous people lined up and entered the circle single file by group according to some sort of order,  (it was never clear to me just what the order was). Once the line went around the outside of the circle it would continually move concentrically just inside the next row until it reached the center of the circle. The participants were dressed in full regalia, dancing and moving to the music that was being played and sung by the alternating drum circles. At one point I believe they must have had 450 people on the floor moving, swaying and dancing together. It was a colorful, moving, reverberating, powerful audio visual extravaganza.

Fancy dancers

elders entering the circle at the Grand Entry 

some were dressed in buckskin, some in furs and some in cloth, but nearly everyone had feathers, beading or strips of material (fringe) included in their regalia. With my interest in clothing and costuming I was in heaven from this single feature, to say nothing about all the rest of the cultural aspects there were to learn about and experience.

Most , if not all, of the regalia is handmade, some even passed down through the family and the craftsmanship was exquisite. A proud tradition for proud peoples.

beaded horses on buckskin dress

And then there was the dancing!      Dance types were separated by gender but each type also had multiple age categories, so one group or another was always dancing, from the moms with babies to the elders. I was able to learn about about a few of the dances, others I just sat back and watched with wonder.

I think this is the grass dance. The fringe represents the grass and the dancers make sweeping motions with their feet to "trample down the grasses in the prairie" to make a space to hold the dances. 

“Fancy Dance”. 

I'm still not really sure what that means, but they had lots of pieces they would attach to their bodies and all the pieces were covered with feathers. When they were out on the floor they moved and twisted their bodies so they were just a mass of swirling colors and it was hard to distinguish any kind of a body part.

It was a very athletic dance and seemed popular among the teen and twenty somethings boys.

here we have a young fancy dancer learning all the moves.

shawl dance 

This is a female dance. As the shawls are floating and dipping and spinning they resemble butterflies flitting about amongst flowers. It's a very challenging athletic dance that was primarily for teen and twenty somethings girls.

This is a pic of the sister we watched get ready. We never found out who won any of the dances, but she was my favorite.

Shawl dancer in front, but look at the judges. Wow to all.

tallying the scores

The Chicken dance

This was one of my favorite dances. Likely because I had chickens growing up and recognize their peculiar movements. Haha. The dance has an odd little rhythm that sometimes the dancers would incorporate with a head and neck movement that was just spot on. Other times they would strut about. Add onto that these young boys in full regalia and I was smitten. I mean, seriously, how could you not be?

Jingle dance 

The dancers have all these brass bells sewn onto their skirts and they move in a way to make them “jingle”. The skirts are very heavy.

The youth are following the traditions of the powwows, but adding their own spin to them. Many have modernized the regalia be using nontraditional material and colors.

Another of my favorites was the Cradle Board dance. Because this was an intertribal powwow many traditions were represented including styles of cradle boards. Some were carried, some were strapped to their fronts or backs, some had angular designs and some had curved designs. This was a vendor who didn't participate in any of the circle activities except for the Cradle Board. The board was so stunning with the beading pattern on the side.

another cradle board

and some random images

a beautiful young girl dancing buckskin traditional.

this entire shawl is beaded

young girl watching a drum circle 

Chiefs

and from the northern climes, fur.

Bookend sunsets for this blog

p.s. This fruit came crashing down from a tree at our campsite. It is an Osage orange. I, of course, had to goggle it because I was hoping for something yummy … what I came up with is that      1. the essential oils  may be used as a bug repellent,  🤔                                        2. it has a green, bitter flavor with mild notes of cucumber and a fruity, citrus-like aroma. The flavor is generally unpleasant, unpalatable, and some may feel ill after ingesting the bitter fruit, causing many to deem it inedible. Bwaaahaaahaa.  I washed my hands and left it there. 🤷 Thanks but no thanks.

Next stop: Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas