WhoMe

Has anybody ever heard of taking a class about Powwows - at the university level?

Our state regents for higher education and state university are sponsoring a class called Pow-Wow Culture - Native American Performance & Meaning. This course is offered through their Scholar-Leadership Enrichment Program.

On their website they have the following course description:

"The intent of the course is to introduce students to the multi-faceted nature of powwows, i.e. their political, cultural, and social importance from their emergence in the 19 th century to contemporary times. At the same time, it will also raise awareness of the powwow’s importance in negotiating cultural identity during times of social and cultural upheavals. Among others we will discuss giveaways, Forty-Niners, rituals, American Indian communities and the challenges they face in the 21 st century, identity issues, traditional knowledge, and powwows as tourist attractions. On the practical side, this course will also serve as an introduction to northern and southern style powwows."

I am one of the facilitators and will be giving my presentation this afternoon.

If you were going to give a lecture on powwows, what would you say?

I have seen powwow singing classes (my dad is teaching one this spring semester) and powwow dance workshops. I have even seen Powwow seminars.

But, have you ever heard of a stuctured university level powwow class before?????

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

Emmy

so for final project would u all be hosting a powwow? and the grade is based on how well it ran?

just curious...

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amarie49

That sounds like a fun class. I would definately make an A in that one. If I were doing a lecture I would definately discuss the difference between northern and southern powwows and the basics: dance styles, head staff, etiquette, etc. I would also discuss regalia because there's so much work put into each outfit. Have fun.

Privateer6

Contact Joe Liles at the NC School for Science and Math,www.ncssm.edu . He conducts a class on Native culture and part of the final project the students do is put on the NCSSM Powwow. Hope this helps.

WhoMe

Whew! Just finished! 3 hours. 45 minutes!

Dang they have some good speakers! Yesterday they met with an individual that runs one of Americas' biggest powwows. Tonight at the university they have a German "cultural enthusiast" who will share the European powwow experience. Tomorrow, they have one of the top fancy dancers giving a presentation!

I did exactly what amarie suggested! I gave a crash course on:

1. Indian history and how it relates to powwow history.
2. The powwow arena and it's components.
3. Northern and Southern distinctions in the powwow circle.
4. The drum (actual singing and explanation)
5. The dance styles and their origins.
6. Dance Regalia and its origins.
7. The head staff, their roles in the powwow and their origins.
8. The grand entry (video)
9. Drum and dance contests. (actual singing and explanation)
10. Powwow as a way of life.
11. Powwow ettiquette for the first time visitor.
12. Q & A


OHHH and of course I put in a plug for POWWOWS.COM!!!

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

powwowbum49

Dang you get to have all the fun!!!

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PB49

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." Pablo Picasso


My comments are based on what I have been taught and my experiences over the years I have been around the circle. They should in no way be taken as gospel truths and are merely my opinions or attempts at passing on what I have learned while still learning more.

Smokin' Ace

That sounds awesome - I am going to forward this thread to some of our professors here - you never know..... congrats - what a great idea...

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buckskin pantyhose

Hey there! This thread has had my mind going a mile a minute....so many things have popped in my mind in regards to taking powwow to the university level of study. You're such a foward thinker....very innovative!

This is something i'd be interested in participating in just to see what they've recognized as the standards of a powwow. It's one thing to live the powwow life, but truly another to understand & work the behind the scenes.
my only concern would be that after taking this class "someone" would feel they've become the "authority" on powwows & proceed to tell committees what they're doing right/wrong & challenge contests etc., you know how that goes! ;)

Well buddy, i'm happy to see you continue to make advances in bringing Native America to the main stream......

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streamhawk

Although I'm not familiar with such a class at the university level, sounds like you did a great job in being informative and educational. Maybe these kids will have a larger appreciation of powwow when they attend one. Good going!!

Bill
E-Quo-ni To-Wo'-di

WhoMe

U2-49er's *L

Yes! This class was so fun to give a presentation to!

There were no Indians (identifiable) in the class. . . Only adult nonIndian educators. They were very interested and asked extremely intellegent and thought provoking questions. Two examples of questions they asked:

"How has Indian casino prize money changed powwows? Is it a good change or a bad change?''

and

"Have powwows taken young Indian people away from their own tribal ceremonies?"



GJJudd,

I really like Joe and am glad to see he is a part of this project. Joe gave me some posters that he did the artwork for. He is really a talented individual. Tell him to keep up the good work!


Emmy,

I am not sponsoring this project so I don't know how they will be graded. I am just glad that when these educators attend their next (or first, in some cases) powwow, they will have a "basic" understanding of what is taking place and appreciate it, knowing some background.


Smokin,

Yes, this is a fantastic idea.

Why study Indian culture in the past tense, when Powwows are an integral social activity that so many Indians today, participate in? A powwow class can fulfill credits in: social studies, history, music, dance theory, ethnology, behavioral studies and museum studies. Let me know what your professors think of this innovative idea?



Hey Gyrl,

I've missed you. Where have you been? Your name came up recently and we were wondering how you've been?

This class was not my idea (darnit' *L). I was only asked to be a facilitator. But yes, It has a lot of potential. I will address your concerns in the next post.


This one is getting loooong!

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

rayhvyn

Would be awesome also, to have their homework to make dance outfits!

WhoMe

I attended the presentation by the German Powwow lady last night.

Her presentation was open to the public and was well attended.

This just proves that a powwow class DOES have a lot of interest and potential!

On Monday I will post some of the interesting observations of her lecture.

Stay tuned!

__________________
"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

WhoMe

Quotes from the German Powwow Lecture:

1. Many Germans join hobbyist clubs. Indian enthusiast clubs of the 1830s-1890s time period and modern powwow clubs are popular. There are also medieval, mountainmen/rondezvous, wild west/cowboy, hun (like Ginges Khan) and even African American Clubs that Germans join.

2. Some Germans go to powwows for the same reasons that Indians do... it's a family activity.

3. Some Germans join the Indian enthusiast clubs because they believe that American Indians are close to nature, are environmentalists and conservationists. They want to feel these same qualities.

4. Indian people regularly go to Germany to teach Germans about their culture and participate in their powwows. Some Indian people have ended up staying there!

5. German Indian enthusiasts can make Indian regalia equal to the finest Indian made articles.

6. German singers and dancers are not as advanced as their regalia.

7. Some Indian enthusiasts who belong to the 1830's-1890s time period clubs believe, "there are no TRUE Indians who are alive today."

__________________
"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe