Pow Wow is a community Celebration, traditionally held during the summer season when travel was easiest and food most abundant.  For many years Pow Wow was illegal and only in the last few decades have Pow Wows made a come back and become open to the public once again.  Pow Wow is a time of celebration of culture through Ceremony, song, dance, feasting and much socializing and catching up. Until the last few decades most Pow Wows were what are now called Competition Pow Wows.  Some of these celebrations survived the legal bans on gatherings as parts of Wild West Shows in the United States.  At Competition Pow Wows, as the name implies, Dancers and Drums compete for prize money.  While such competition is not strictly speaking consistent with the Spiritual origins of Pow Wow,  they were a survival mechanism and even today help support Dancers, Drums and Artisans who travel the Pow Wow Trail and hone their talents through competition.  In recent decades Traditional Pow Wows have experienced a rebirth. Traditional Pow Wows do not include competition for money. Dancers and Drums take part without expectation of monetary gain. At such Pow Wows; Dancers, Drums and invited Elders, Veterans and Dancers will usually be offered a modest honorarium to compensate them for travel and living costs.  Traditional Pow Wows have a more sedate and informal pace than Competition Pow Wows and more time is taken for Ceremonies and Honour Songs.  These are perhaps closer in many respects to the feeling of old time Pow Wow.  They are not, however, usually as colorful or flamboyant as Competition Pow Wows.For the first timer everything may seem new and confusing.  Following are some guidelines to help you understand what is going on and see beyond what meets the eye. 

There are few rules at Pow Wow and they will vary slightly from place to place. Some common elements of Pow Wow Etiquette are provided in these pages as a guide. This guide should allow the newcomer to enjoy the Pow Wow with confidence and respect.

The following information is very general in nature.  Pow Wow etiquette varies from community to community and tribal tradition to tribal tradition.  Don't be surprised if some aspects of the Pow Wow you attend are run differently than suggested below.  We must always respect the wishes and traditions of the hosting Community. 

Go with the Flow

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