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.
The United States even created a law to limit when and how tribes could gather to celebrate various aspects of Native culture. While this is the case, many tribes continued to meet and hold celebrations in secret. After which, the celebrations led to new pow wows in the Great Lakes region and eventually across the country with many taking place 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 consist of several individuals whom do all the planning prior to a gathering. In many cases, if there is a sponsor, committee members are often part of the sponsoring organization. One area in which the committee is always responsible is in recruiting and hiring staff, publicizing the event, securing a location and recruiting vendors.
Staff are the people whom run the gathering on a day to day basis during the event. These individuals are often hired by the committee several months in advance in order to assure staff receives the proper training and that individuals can handle the work load. For, the quality of staff each year can often play an integral role in the attendance at future events.
While most of these events have an arena director whom works to assure all goes well during the gathering, not all events have an assistant director. When this is the case, the arena director also takes on the role of the assistant which works to assure all ceremonies, dances and other aspects of the gathering go as planned.
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.
The United States even created a law to limit when and how tribes could gather to celebrate various aspects of Native culture. While this is the case, many tribes continued to meet and hold celebrations in secret. After which, the celebrations led to new pow wows in the Great Lakes region and eventually across the country with many taking place 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 consist of several individuals whom do all the planning prior to a gathering. In many cases, if there is a sponsor, committee members are often part of the sponsoring organization. One area in which the committee is always responsible is in recruiting and hiring staff, publicizing the event, securing a location and recruiting vendors.
Staff are the people whom run the gathering on a day to day basis during the event. These individuals are often hired by the committee several months in advance in order to assure staff receives the proper training and that individuals can handle the work load. For, the quality of staff each year can often play an integral role in the attendance at future events.
While most of these events have an arena director whom works to assure all goes well during the gathering, not all events have an assistant director. When this is the case, the arena director also takes on the role of the assistant which works to assure all ceremonies, dances and other aspects of the gathering go as planned.
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.
About the Author:
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment