rem

G'day everyone!
I recently traveled in South Dakota for a couple of weeks in August & absolutely loved it.....had been dreaming of visiting for close to 18yrs!
I was lucky enough to attend one of the days of the powwow at Lower Brule, which topped my visit off amazingly. I felt so honoured to experience it & also so welcome. My mate asked the announcer about permission to take photos and he promptly announced it to everyone and welcomed us! Set us up for a brilliant day
The powwow was my first 'taste' of drums & singing....which I loved of course...and I've been glad to learn more about them since.

Since coming home, I've been going over my travels and re-immersing myself in readings of Native American culture & history, that began in 1990. Now all I want to do is come back and re-trace my steps - and more - to look at things in different ways and with more knowledge! And if I could attend a few more powwows and hopefully see some of my new, favorite drum groups?.........then I'd be happy & maybe more willing to settle down into my own mundane life without that annoying itch.

Thanks for having me here, if I could just hang out and maybe ask a few questions here & there.....

hobbs49

Welcome to PW.com rem! I hope this you find a fun and friendly home here :-)

Eagle Plumes

Welcome hope you enjoy the site!

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I got a fevah! And the only cure is more cowbell!!!

NorthofAda

Hey rem, welcome to the site!

There's a lot of good information here and good people, too. You'll want to check out the Powwow TV link at the right there - you can see some great footage of the different dance styles from some of the bigger powwows across the country. Might help you plan for where you want to go when you come across the water again.

I've never been to Australia, but my mother-in-law was there a couple of years ago. She took some great photos - I'd love to visit there if I ever get the $$$.

Anyways - welcome!

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trob226

Your post reminds me just how terrific it is to be "just" a spectator at a powwow. So many people think being a spectator is not participating, but it IS. There is something about being a spectator at a powwow that makes you part of the gathering. The "event" is not about you, things aren't "staged" to make you have a certain "experience." It's not like being a spectator at the performance of a play or a football game. It's more like being a participant who just has a different perspective.

they_drag_him

Yes, Lower Brule with the millions of dragonflies dropping on your frybread. It's a great powwow especially with the Missouri River right next to it. Next time, yoiu should also check out the Crow Creek Powwow which follows the weekend after.

trob226

Do dragonflies taste like chicken?

rem

thanks for the welcomes!

trob226 - so true. I really did feel a part of it. And part of something that didn't involve a bunch of tourists sitting to watch a show. I think that's why I felt so honored too. Some friends are amazed that the powwow wasn't a touristy thing....a common misperception I guess, but then so much more interested they're not.


How soon are dates for powwow's in 2008 decided on? If I come over next year, I'd like to plan it so I can go to a few.

hobbs49

Many powwows are annual events. However, there are some that may just spring up to celebrate as special event or to honor someone stuff like that.

That said, the committee must still do the hard work of getting the head staff in place, securing locations (in some cases), and things like that, so often you don't really see many "official" notices until 2-3 months out.

The good news is that in some parts of the country, Oklahoma being a good example, you can probably find a dance to attend every weekend if you try hard enough. During the summer months, especially July/August, you can likely pick between several dances on a given weekend! As trob says, it's really not an event so much as a culture or lifestyle.

socman

Very well said, trob. Even though I am white, every time I leave a pow wow, I always feel "spiritually refreshed", and if a spectator doesn't feel that way, well then, chances are pow wows just aren't for them.

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"As through this world I've wandered, I've met lots of funny men. Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen." -Woody Guthrie