Paul G

An important Elder dies almost every day, somewhere in Indian country. When they die, important information on tribal history, tribal traditions, family history, language, songs, stories, etc., die with them. Therefore, it is so very important that we take the time to sit with Elders and preserve information for the….

Ladies Cloth is a form of Native American women’s dress and dance and has both a Northern and Southern style. The Southern style is danced by the Kiowas, Osage, Ponca, and others. The Northern style is danced by the Sioux, Crow, and others. The dance is a slow and graceful one….

Ladies Fancy Shawl is the newest form of Native American Women’s Dance, and is quite athletic! Fancy Shawl is often called Northern Shawl, as it does come form the Northern Tribes along the U.S. and Canadian Border. This is very similar in dancing and the bright colors to the Men’s….

One of the oldest form of  Native American Women’s Dance is Buckskin. This is a dance of elegance and grace. The movement is smooth and flowing. The ladies wear fine, hand-crafted buckskin dresses, decorated with intricate bead designs. Northern dresses are fully beaded on the shoulders, or cape. Southern ones,….

The Oklahoma Feather Dance or “Fancy Dance” is one of the most popular styles of Native American dance and outfits seen at modern pow wows. The Fancy Dance outfit, as such, has no single Native American tribes. The “Fancy Dance” originated as Fancy War Dance by the Hethuska Society in….

Though Grass Dancing was originally done as a Warrior Society Dance, it has evolved over the years. It has further evolved into a highly-competitive form of northern dancing. Grass Dancers always stands out by virtue of two things: his dancing style and his outfit. His dancing has been described often….

The Northern Traditional Dancer is a modern evolution of tribal outfits from the tribes of the Northern Plains such as Sioux, Blackfoot, Crow, Omaha and others. Below is some information about the outfit’s parts. It must be stressed that this is only a brief description as variations do exist from….

Gourd dancing is not a “pow wow style” of dance. Gourd Dances are held regularly by several groups, especially in Oklahoma. Today the dance is being done at pow wows before, after, and between intertribal dancing. The dance was resurrected by the Kiowa Tribe. Several tribes historically held Gourd Dances….

In the heart of First Nations and Native American communities, a captivating and rhythmic tradition known as the Jingle Dress Dance has endured through generations.  Steeped in rich history and cultural significance, the Jingle Dress Dance has evolved from a healing ritual into a source of immense pride. Its origins….

Powwows.com, LLC was started in 1996 by Paul Gowder.  Today the site is one of the largest Native American sites online. The following pages include information on pow wow dance styles and other pow wow information.  The descriptions are only ideals.  At pow wows today many dancers are not wearing….

Along with the drum, which is arguably the most prominent instrument in Native American music, singing at a Pow Wow is a treasured musical experience for all.

Giveaways are part of Native American culture, in which individuals give gifts to the community to honor others’ accomplishments. Read more about it here!