Different Native American tribes first became distinguished by the United States during the mid-1800s. Since that time, the public has become more aware of Native culture and different tribes. In most cases, this public awareness has come about thanks to the many Native american pow wows which take place in different regions on an annual basis.
The primary aspect of the early pow wows were public dances similar to those taking place at pow wows today. These events were a common practice of tribes residing in the Great Plains. As to which tribe held the first pow wow, that continues to remain a mystery. What is known, is that these were trying times for the Native Americans as the United States had already began fragmenting the tribes in an attempt to acquire land for economic growth and development.
While laws were created to limit these celebrations by Native American communities, many tribes continued to gather together to practice cultural aspects of the tribes in secret. As a result, new pow wows began taking place in the Great Lakes region by the 19th century. After which, the celebrations began to spread across the United States with different tribes celebrating and holding pow wows on an annual basis.
Organizing and planning such an event now begins months, if not a year in advance by a group of people who make up an organizational committee. Many of these gatherings are sponsored by Native American clubs, communities and organizations. Whereas, others might be sponsored by specific tribes or Native American Studies programs such as the one located at Humboldt State University in Northern California.
The committee often consists of these tribal leaders along with several individuals whom plan all the events associated with a pow wow. In most cases, if there are sponsors, committee members are selected from the sponsoring organizations. In addition to planning and organizing, the committee is also in charge of hiring staff, training, recruiting vendors, securing a location and publicizing the event.
Staff members run the day to day operations of the event and work alongside volunteers. Individuals hired as staff members are often hired months in advance in order to train and learn about different assignments. Whereas, volunteers are often placed in different areas upon arrival at the event.
Most pow wows have an arena director whom is in charge during the event. Sometimes known as a whip man, the whip man is the director's assistant though there are a number of gatherings which do not have a whip man. When this is the case, the arena director often takes on the role of assistant and director.
In the case of events which hold contests, most arena directors ask a different individual to act as head judge. For, it is important that judges have no special bias towards contestants. As such, if the arena director were to know contestants from the local tribe hosting the pow wow, any votes for those individuals could be considered a conflict of interest.
The primary aspect of the early pow wows were public dances similar to those taking place at pow wows today. These events were a common practice of tribes residing in the Great Plains. As to which tribe held the first pow wow, that continues to remain a mystery. What is known, is that these were trying times for the Native Americans as the United States had already began fragmenting the tribes in an attempt to acquire land for economic growth and development.
While laws were created to limit these celebrations by Native American communities, many tribes continued to gather together to practice cultural aspects of the tribes in secret. As a result, new pow wows began taking place in the Great Lakes region by the 19th century. After which, the celebrations began to spread across the United States with different tribes celebrating and holding pow wows on an annual basis.
Organizing and planning such an event now begins months, if not a year in advance by a group of people who make up an organizational committee. Many of these gatherings are sponsored by Native American clubs, communities and organizations. Whereas, others might be sponsored by specific tribes or Native American Studies programs such as the one located at Humboldt State University in Northern California.
The committee often consists of these tribal leaders along with several individuals whom plan all the events associated with a pow wow. In most cases, if there are sponsors, committee members are selected from the sponsoring organizations. In addition to planning and organizing, the committee is also in charge of hiring staff, training, recruiting vendors, securing a location and publicizing the event.
Staff members run the day to day operations of the event and work alongside volunteers. Individuals hired as staff members are often hired months in advance in order to train and learn about different assignments. Whereas, volunteers are often placed in different areas upon arrival at the event.
Most pow wows have an arena director whom is in charge during the event. Sometimes known as a whip man, the whip man is the director's assistant though there are a number of gatherings which do not have a whip man. When this is the case, the arena director often takes on the role of assistant and director.
In the case of events which hold contests, most arena directors ask a different individual to act as head judge. For, it is important that judges have no special bias towards contestants. As such, if the arena director were to know contestants from the local tribe hosting the pow wow, any votes for those individuals could be considered a conflict of interest.
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Check out the official website of the highly acclaimed musicians, the Native American Pow Wows, by referring to this web page at http://www.thunderingspiritfamily.com/performers.
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