Pow Wow Song & Dance

We are often asked about some of the different aspects of a Pow Wow, especially the songs sung during these special events...so we decided to bring in one of our in-house experts from our bookstore to talk about the different songs and share some good resources for those who would like to learn more.

[Rose] For those folks you don't know about Pow Wow, its a huge social gathering. Its about family and friends. We even invite our dead ancestors to join us. The energy is powerful and everything is about the Drum, the Singing, and the Dancing…and none of them can exist without the other.

[Frank] Right! Pow Wows are a big social events. There are a lot of aspects to a Pow Wow…the major thing is the Drum. The Lakota word is chanchega, which basically means "a kettle with a skin over it".

There are lots of different Pow Wow songs and a good reference to learn more about them is the book Sharing the Gift of Lakota Song. This was written by Ronnie Theisz, a former professor at Black Hills State University who taught American Indian Studies and specialized in Lakota culture. In this book, Dr. Theisz explains how these songs are seen as gifts and explains the differences in how the songs are sung and the sacred versus secular.

The types of songs sung at Pow Wow are secular, they are not sacred or strictly limited to ceremony.

[Rose] Yes…that's a different kind of singing.

[Frank] One thing about Sioux Indian Pow Wows, we have the Flag Song, Honoring the Singers Song, Round Dance, the Rabbit Dance (this is where males and females dance together), Love Song, Selecting a Leader Song…

The book is very informative! If you've ever wanted to learn more about Lakota Pow Wow music…this is the book to turn to.

[Rose] So, Ronnie gives not just a general overview of Pow Wow, he's also very specific.

[Frank] Right…for Lakota song.

[Rose] Does he just talk about song? Does he also talk about the actual dancing… for instance, why its called the Rabbit Dance or why its called the Flag Dance?

[Frank] Yes, he gives some of the history of each dance and explains their origins. Basically the Flag Song is an anthem. At one time the Sioux Nation was at war with other tribes and the United States, but after the Reservation period we came to embrace and honor the American flag.

This song is always sung at the beginning of a Pow Wow. It shows the progression of relations between Natives and non-Natives and how we became Americans.

[Rose] …and that we are here to defend and fight for the Flag and our nation, the United States and our Lakota nation.

At a Pow Wow, the flag is the first thing that enters the arena, then the Veterans, then the beloved elders, and then the dancers. Does the book talk about why this is?

[Frank] During the Grand Entry, the most honored comes first.

[Rose] Also, folks should know this is specifically the Lakota's view on Pow Wow. There are all kinds of Nations all across Indian country that have their views about Pow Wow, but specifically we're talking about the Lakotas.