New2itall

Many new folks come to this forum asking questions and it seems that a common answer to many of those questions is “go to a Pow Wow and see how it’s done” and “Go to a Pow Wow meet some folks.” Obviously, this is great advice! There is only one problem I see with it and that is in how to find the right Pow Wow.
I know that many states have “made-up” tribes, formed by some really strange folks, also there are groups that are plastic shaman based that hold events. Then you have some Pow Wows that are listed as fundraisers, and Mountain Men/Rendezvous Pow Wows. So, how would all you out there in experienced Pow Wow-land suggest a new Pow Wow goer find the “right” one? After all, if you finally get them to go to one, you don’t want them returning on the forum as “Chief” cause they were smudged, given a new name, and finished it all off in a sweat lodge for a mere few hundred dollars. Do we?

ok24stacey

well I realize in Oklahoma we are lucky to have so many to choose from but lately I pick which powwow I will attend by asking....."which one will cost me the least amount in gas?" lol

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hobbs49

Here are some things that I think about when going to a powwow I don't know much about.

Is it an annual event? If so, how many years has it been around? I tend to avoid the 1st and 2nd annuals UNLESS I happen to know someone who it putting it on.

Is there a web site for the organization or the powwow? Reading about the organization can sometimes help me to understand where they're coming from. I *love* pictures on the website of past events. If there are pictures and they look kinda hokey I tend to stay away.

I ask some of my powwow going friends if they've been or talked to anyone who has been. It's good to hear what other people think about a powwow.

Is there a listing of the head staff? Look to see if there is anyone you know. I tend to focus a lot on the drum groups or head singer cause they'll often set the tone for the powwow.

I wouldn't travel very far to a powwow that I didn't get a good feeling about based on one or two of the above. Now if it is a nearby powwow, a person who doesn't know very much could look at some of the videos on PowwowTV to see how good powwows like Red Earth, Gathering, etc look and how people dress and singers sing. Then once they get to the suspect powwow if it doesn't really match what they've seen here, well they can always turn around and beat a hasty retreat to the nearest movie theater to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

Just some thoughts.

Josiah

How close to you live to Oklahoma?
Because there are some small and informal powwows along the Arkansas border
Specifically Tahlequah, Tulsa, Quapaw, Miami
and others
They are usually posted on here
I suggest you go to a small benefit powwow that is usually in the wording if you want to start small and easy

On the other hand there are 2 big ones that do well with Tourists:

IICOT in August is a really good Powwow to attend there is alot of tourists that hit that one. Its inside and airconditioned
and in Tulsa Oklahoma. It also features alot of stuff that the kids can do why the adults watch the powwow. It has a bleacher section so that you can see what is going on and the MC's do a good job of explaining what is happening

Red Earth is in Oklahoma City in June every year it costs to get in and features an Art Festival at the same time as the Powwow. Its inside also in the Cox Convention Center so there is plenty of seating. This one is designed for the more Artsy folks... LOL
But it has a really good powwow.

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superndngyrl

if you know any indians, ask them what pow-wows are coming up. even if they dont know, they might know someone who knows.

Another good place to find powwows is here on the pws.com calendar.

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The only time its too late to start dancing is when you're dead.

New2itall

This is really meant as a general question to the public so that folks all over the states can figure out how to pick a good one.
I personally have been to a small Choctaw gathering, and one inter-tribal in Broken Bow. I plan to hit Tuskahoma for the Labor Day gathering. I love Oklahomans! They were all so super nice from the gas station attendants, to the hotel managers! I personally think it would be hard to go wrong in OK!

New2itall

OK24Stacey-You are right! OK is rockin' the Pow Wows!

Hobbs 49- Your wisdom is spot on once again! The look at the web site kept me from going to a new-ager Pow Wow by a wannabe tribe here in Arkansas. We seem to have a lot of those, but the crap on the web site clued me in! Excellent reminder!

Superndngyrl-Are all the Pows listed here "approved" by some selection process that weeds out the wackos? Does that mean that if I see a Pow Wow listed in my community, and not on Pow Wow's.Com that is probably isn't legit?
If you are not lucky enough to have a Pow Wow community near where you live, it can be hard to figure this stuff out!

socman

Hobbs nailed it as usual. Easy access to info & history is the key. If you're having trouble finding any history or info on an event...I'd steer clear. I've now started recognizing certain drum groups, MCs, ADs etc. Study the calender here on this site. You can even search certain pow wows on "you tube" to get a feel for the surroundings etc. Just last night I spent a good deal of time watching videos from Sac & Fox in Stroud on you tube. The ones that have repeated year after year are the ones to start with.

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Josiah

Stroud is a good one! But not sure it would work as a first timer's first powwow...
It is crazy crowded but then some people don't mind that.
Familys set up long time in advance with chairs all around the arena so getting close to the arena is out of the question, It is a dancers powwow
Comanche Fair is the same

I named two powwows (RED EARTH and IICOT) that would work well for a first timer
The bleachers help you see what is actually going on!


As for trying to figure out how to pick a powwow

Everybody has some excellent suggestions, which really boil down to this:
After going to a few powwows in an area, you will meet people and get to know them.
You will go to good ones and you will mark those down on your calendar to attend next year and you will run into crappy ones and never return to those again.
As for powwows posted in the calendar on here, no one edits those for content so ANY powwow that somebody wants to post can be posted!!!

I tend to pick powwows using the following criteria:

1) Have I been there before...
This you will only gain by going to powwows in that region after a while you will find those good ones and ones you avoid next year!

2) Do I know anybody on the head staff?
We like to support our friends whenever we can

3) Have they been recomended by others...
Powwows.com is a great source for powwow information look under the forum trip reports and you will see alot of first hand info regarding powwows and may even see some info on the particular powwow you are thinking about attending

4) Look at the committee running the powwow...
Is it the 1st annual or the 20th annual? This defiantly will tell you if the powwow has been around, they must be doing something right. I tend to stay away from powwows that change committees almost every year!!

5) Where it is (Location)
well in todays economy gas money is important

6) Is it a Ceremony or Contest or Benefit Powwow?
Ceremonies dont usually have alot of first timers there and it would be a very good idea if you were invited. If in doubt contact the committee alot of them have email addresses and will give you some good info on it.
Contest powwows attract large numbers of dancers and lots of spectators
Benefit powwows tend to be smaller and usually are fairly informal...


I am sure there are other criteria that I will think of later

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Ivanasnagu

I base my travels on headstaff. Who is the headsinger or host drums, AD, MC, etc. A boring MC will kill a powwow. I love to dance so the most important thing for me is who is singing..... Josiah had two good recommendations in ICOTT and Red Earth. The $15.00 admission for a weekend pass to ICOTT is well worth the comforts of air conditioning! Just my two cents.

New2itall

Well, based on all your advice, it has helped me to cancel one Pow Wow and plan on attending Red Earth. You all (or as we say here in AR "ya'll") may not realize all the information you give, in both words said, and words left out, but I feel you all have helped guide me into the best summer Pow Wows for me and the kids! Thank you all so much! I hope to see some of you at Red Earth, but I am unsure how to find you! Maybe I should "wear a pink carnation in my "coat" pocket."

steelemagnolia63

I love benefit pow-wows, but only if I can find out "real" information on these events, if it doesn't look legit then it might not be... Most benefits are small gatherings and a good place for a new comer to go to. They tend to be friendlier, and more open to questions.

Lots of people follow drums, dancers or head staff... We do both, if there is a particular drum that we love to dance with we try to go to as many events as we can afford to (gas is a biggie) attend. Jim and I both like to attend non-contest pow-wows, they just seem more relaxed. We have a pair of wonderful head dancers that we love to dance with, they make any pow-wow they are at a fun gathering, before, during, and after dancing. That makes it enjoyable for the dancers, and the audience. We hope that our group will follow us and have just as good a feeling...

Ask around, the local people sometimes know what is a good event and what isn't... Try out a few on your own if you get a good feeling at this gathering then it might just be just the place for you...

I recently attended one at a Indian Hertiage Museum and it was great.. good crowd... lots of dancers, great drumming and singing, and really positive energy.....

I have been dancing at one pow-wow that is in it's 5th year and it's grown by leaps and bounds every year. My husband is one of the founding committee members, and I joined the group in it's 2nd year... the committe works hard every year to plan this event and it gets bigger than we plan every year, so the Creator is happy with us...last year we had so many dancers (over 200) that we were flabbergasted... So don't over look one that is in it's infancy... you might be surprised...

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