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Experience the Essence of a Culture
Listen to the arousing heart-pounding beat of the drums, now queue the reverberation of haunting falsetto singers that echo along the shores of the grand river. It's Pow-Wow time on the Six Nations reserve in Ontario. Bordering the towns of Caledonia, Hagersville, and Brant county, the rich cultural heritage tradition of these First Nations people, known as Haudenosaunee, host an annual extraordinary event featuring over 400 lively dancers, singers, scores of traditional crafters, and over 30 unique food vendors.
Although not my home town, I had a distinct yet unique opportunity to live within and among a very deeply engrained culture rich with tradition and folklore. My mentor was my father-in-law, George Beaver - a well respected educator on the Six Nations reserve and author of First Nations books and native pageant plays, he once told me that you cannot see the wind but you can see and hear what it does; like the drumbeat of a heart, rhythm is all around us. The eyes and ears of your heart catch the waves of sound that surround us to comfort or call us into action; dance. From the snows of the Arctic, down across the vast shifting landscape of the East to the Northwest forests, First Nations musical traditions express lessons in life and represent not one entity but various sound-scapes from Region to Region and Nation to Nation.
Ageless Tradition
The Champion of Champions Pow Wow is a great flowering of cultures which encompasses ageless traditions starting with a series of large concentric circles to specifically define areas of respect and etiquette. The core is a centre circle, called the Dance Arbour, where the dancers perform their specialized dances for the judges. Outside the main circle is another large circle where the Master of Ceremonies, drum groups, and sitting area for the dancers and their families. Spectators are welcome to sit in the third circle which encompasses the Dance Arbour.
Grand Entry
Considered a sacred event, each Grand Entry is impressive. Rich in tradition, every Pow-wow starts with a Grand Entry song from the host drum with the Eagle Staff leading the way followed by both the Canadian and American flags, important guests, elders, officials, and other dignitaries. Dancers, wearing distinctive ceremonial dress known as 'regalia', enter in specific order where the younger dancers always follow their elders. First to enter are the men's traditional dancers; known for their authentic design distinguished by a single or no bustle, and high kicking step movements. Next enter the Men's Fancy Dancers who have vivid regalia renowned for their two bustles and move with dramatic leaps and spinning which are always the biggest crowd pleasers. Next are the Grass Dancers who have long flowing fringes and designs reminiscent of grass blowing in the wind. Their method of dance movements are more elaborate than traditional dances but less theatrical than the fancy dancers. Now the women enter the sacred circle starting with the Traditional dancers. Beautiful regalia with authentic design signified with eagle feathers in their hair and an eagle fan in their right hand. They are majestic and poised with very precise, highly controlled movements. Next are the Women Fancy dancers with brilliant colours, long fringed shawls who perform rapid swirling spins and elaborate dance steps. Finally, the Jingle Dress Dancers, who move with light footwork and wear dresses with hundreds of small tin cones that make noise as they dance. Originally from the Ojibwa nation, these dancers are considered healers as they heal the people of all nations. All the dancers move to the tempo of the drum with the smallest competitors following behind in this sacred event and after everyone is in the Arbour, there is a flag song and then an ending with a victory song. The Opening prayer is offered by a local in their language before special honours, presentations to Elders and other activities wrap up before the competition begins.
Singers & Their Drums
Since ancient times the First Nations people have held socials and practiced shamanistic rituals marked by the inspiring beat of a drum as the voice for the soul while the dancer is the spirit who moves as a single entity articulating valuable morals and core beliefs but the bond lies within the singers. The unison of singers through what's known as Earth song vocables - no word chants, symbolizing strength and clarity as one voice keep the tempo for the dancers. The combined voices heard at a Pow-wow have been described as singing that resembles the haunting cries of a coyote. Each group of singers have their own flair and their own unique technique. As modern life influenced the Nations, the drum, central in symbol, epitomize a tempo to honor the beat of tradition with respect for the land and spirit. It is still apart of community socials, and tourist events today. No two drums are the same. Each embrace the culture in which it was made, has its own distinctive structure in which both its spirit and life are profoundly influenced by the hands of its maker.
Outside Looking In
Thousands of guests experience this cultural dance exhibition every year and the atmosphere is truly alive with great energy. At various points during the competitions, spectators are invited to come join dancers in the arena for a song or two called and intertribal dance. Open to all ages and abilities. A great chance to stretch your legs after being mesmerized by the range and grandeur of each dance competition. Artisans are accessible daily with a variety of unique offering Native crafts like stone and bone carvings, dream catchers, medicine wheels, traditional clothing, original paintings, unique jewellery, and more. Embracing the culture fully will also mean experiencing a few gastronomic anomalies like buffalo or moose burgers and Indian Taco from one of the many food vendors. As with all things in life, everything has an end. The end of the competition at a Pow Wow means awards are handed out and closing ceremonies begin with the retiring of the flags as competitors dance out the flag in a parade approach.
Pow Wow Etiquette
If you plan to attend a Pow Wow, leave your pets at home; service animals exempt. Bring your camera but keep in mind this is a sacred event for Natives and you should not video tape or photograph during the Grand Entry, closing ceremonies or anyone in their regalia unless you get explicit permission. Bring extra cash for souvenirs and meals, have water with you at all times to avoid dehydration in the hot weather, and most importantly, no alcohol is allowed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Patricia_H_Kuhnen-Beaver/2070437
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9355593
Although not my home town, I had a distinct yet unique opportunity to live within and among a very deeply engrained culture rich with tradition and folklore. My mentor was my father-in-law, George Beaver - a well respected educator on the Six Nations reserve and author of First Nations books and native pageant plays, he once told me that you cannot see the wind but you can see and hear what it does; like the drumbeat of a heart, rhythm is all around us. The eyes and ears of your heart catch the waves of sound that surround us to comfort or call us into action; dance. From the snows of the Arctic, down across the vast shifting landscape of the East to the Northwest forests, First Nations musical traditions express lessons in life and represent not one entity but various sound-scapes from Region to Region and Nation to Nation.
Ageless Tradition
The Champion of Champions Pow Wow is a great flowering of cultures which encompasses ageless traditions starting with a series of large concentric circles to specifically define areas of respect and etiquette. The core is a centre circle, called the Dance Arbour, where the dancers perform their specialized dances for the judges. Outside the main circle is another large circle where the Master of Ceremonies, drum groups, and sitting area for the dancers and their families. Spectators are welcome to sit in the third circle which encompasses the Dance Arbour.
Grand Entry
Considered a sacred event, each Grand Entry is impressive. Rich in tradition, every Pow-wow starts with a Grand Entry song from the host drum with the Eagle Staff leading the way followed by both the Canadian and American flags, important guests, elders, officials, and other dignitaries. Dancers, wearing distinctive ceremonial dress known as 'regalia', enter in specific order where the younger dancers always follow their elders. First to enter are the men's traditional dancers; known for their authentic design distinguished by a single or no bustle, and high kicking step movements. Next enter the Men's Fancy Dancers who have vivid regalia renowned for their two bustles and move with dramatic leaps and spinning which are always the biggest crowd pleasers. Next are the Grass Dancers who have long flowing fringes and designs reminiscent of grass blowing in the wind. Their method of dance movements are more elaborate than traditional dances but less theatrical than the fancy dancers. Now the women enter the sacred circle starting with the Traditional dancers. Beautiful regalia with authentic design signified with eagle feathers in their hair and an eagle fan in their right hand. They are majestic and poised with very precise, highly controlled movements. Next are the Women Fancy dancers with brilliant colours, long fringed shawls who perform rapid swirling spins and elaborate dance steps. Finally, the Jingle Dress Dancers, who move with light footwork and wear dresses with hundreds of small tin cones that make noise as they dance. Originally from the Ojibwa nation, these dancers are considered healers as they heal the people of all nations. All the dancers move to the tempo of the drum with the smallest competitors following behind in this sacred event and after everyone is in the Arbour, there is a flag song and then an ending with a victory song. The Opening prayer is offered by a local in their language before special honours, presentations to Elders and other activities wrap up before the competition begins.
Singers & Their Drums
Since ancient times the First Nations people have held socials and practiced shamanistic rituals marked by the inspiring beat of a drum as the voice for the soul while the dancer is the spirit who moves as a single entity articulating valuable morals and core beliefs but the bond lies within the singers. The unison of singers through what's known as Earth song vocables - no word chants, symbolizing strength and clarity as one voice keep the tempo for the dancers. The combined voices heard at a Pow-wow have been described as singing that resembles the haunting cries of a coyote. Each group of singers have their own flair and their own unique technique. As modern life influenced the Nations, the drum, central in symbol, epitomize a tempo to honor the beat of tradition with respect for the land and spirit. It is still apart of community socials, and tourist events today. No two drums are the same. Each embrace the culture in which it was made, has its own distinctive structure in which both its spirit and life are profoundly influenced by the hands of its maker.
Outside Looking In
Thousands of guests experience this cultural dance exhibition every year and the atmosphere is truly alive with great energy. At various points during the competitions, spectators are invited to come join dancers in the arena for a song or two called and intertribal dance. Open to all ages and abilities. A great chance to stretch your legs after being mesmerized by the range and grandeur of each dance competition. Artisans are accessible daily with a variety of unique offering Native crafts like stone and bone carvings, dream catchers, medicine wheels, traditional clothing, original paintings, unique jewellery, and more. Embracing the culture fully will also mean experiencing a few gastronomic anomalies like buffalo or moose burgers and Indian Taco from one of the many food vendors. As with all things in life, everything has an end. The end of the competition at a Pow Wow means awards are handed out and closing ceremonies begin with the retiring of the flags as competitors dance out the flag in a parade approach.
Pow Wow Etiquette
If you plan to attend a Pow Wow, leave your pets at home; service animals exempt. Bring your camera but keep in mind this is a sacred event for Natives and you should not video tape or photograph during the Grand Entry, closing ceremonies or anyone in their regalia unless you get explicit permission. Bring extra cash for souvenirs and meals, have water with you at all times to avoid dehydration in the hot weather, and most importantly, no alcohol is allowed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Patricia_H_Kuhnen-Beaver/2070437
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9355593
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