Kossacks, come to the Powwow. Be where the past, present, & future mingle. Walk amongst feathered giants of all heights & ages. Feel the earth tremble below you as 100s of feet hit the ground in timing to ancient drumming. Come to the Powwow.
(All photos in this diary are from navajo's exquisite collection of last year's Stanford Powwow, except where other wise attributed to Ojibwa or StanfordPowwow.org)
Watch a toddler's eyes grow 3 times as large when dancers file by. Be that toddler for a few minutes. Guaranteed you'll see something that stirs your awe & admiration. It will do your heart good to be caught up in the rythym. Even "tiny tots" will be dancing in their own category. It will make your soul smile. Come to the Powwow.
The Powwow is a celebration of Native cultures through traditional songs, dances and events. An attendance of over 25,000 is expected, making it the largest student-run powwow in the United States and one of the largest events of its kind on the West Coast.
Where: Eucalyptus Grove on Stanford Campus.
When: May 10 - 12, 2013 Mother's Day Weekend. (5K "Fun Run and Walk" on Sat.)
Time: "Grand entry" is at 7 pm Friday, 1 pm & 7 pm Saturday, & 1 pm on Sun.
How (much): No entrance fee or registration required.
Who: You & anyone you know.
Kossacks have been represented at the Stanford Powwow for several years (thanks to navajo). Last year, Meteor Blades, navajo, Dharmasyd, & I myself went. This year so far No Way Lack of Brain, Dharmasyd, Edrie, & myself are going on Sunday. Navajo is a maybe. So are you Kossack. Hope both you & navajo come.
(Excerpts from Ojibwa's The Powwow)
This is a powwow: the most common form of Indian celebration.
The powwow itself is not a religious or spiritual ceremony; nor, in its current form, is it a particularly "ancient" celebration. The powwow is a public celebration and demonstration of community pride in Indian culture and a way of honoring Native American heritage.
On the other hand, for many people - dancers, drummers, and spectators - the powwow is also a spiritual experience and a spiritual ceremony. Many begin their participation in powwow by smudging: cleansing and spiritually purifying themselves, their dance regalia, and their drums with the smoke from sage or sweetgrass.
Christian missionaries to the reservations often complained that Indian dances "inflamed animal passions and the immoral and uncivilized people." Indian agents were told by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to prohibit Indian dancing as such activities were deemed to be injurious to the moral welfare of the Indians.
In spite of attempts to eradicate Indian dances, the dances continued. In the off-reservation venues, the dancers would often be from different tribes and thus a kind of pan-Indianism developed in which the powwows were not a celebration of one particular Indian culture, but of Indianness in general.
People dance at powwows for many reasons. Some dance because they are Indian and this is a way of celebrating their heritage. Powwows are a time for renewing friendships, for seeing family and friends, for coming home.
As Ojibwa has said,
Powwows are about friends, family, and children. The powwow is a public celebration and demonstration of community pride in Indian culture and a way of honoring Native American heritage.
And of course, just keep in mind -
Etiquette & Tips
Do not talk while an elder is speaking on the address system.
Dress properly-nothing too revealing for the ladies.
Leave the chairs around the dance area alone. They are for the dancers--bring your own.
Do not touch the dancers or their regalia.
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Ask before you take a photo—it's just polite and dancers may have religious reasons for avoiding photos. Never enter the dance arena for a photo.
Listen to the MC. He will tell you when to take your hats and caps off during traditional dances.
When a blanket dance is announced, be prepared to donate a few dollars when the blanket passes you. The money will be donated to the person or drum group being honored.
Ask people around you to explain things you don't understand-most will be eager to share their knowledge with you.
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Speaking of "Do not touch the dancers or their regalia" from above...
...even when love came to "Bam-Bam" last year, etiquette was (barely) followed.
A special hat-trip to navajo for capturing series of photos as the awe-struck & apparently joy-filled "Bam-Bam" followed the dancer around.
So come for the "Fun Run & Walk", come to honor, come to recall, come to imagine, come to chat,
come smile & laugh,
or just come to watch.
Come to the grove!
(Unattributed photo from a prior year's Stanford Powwow)
Kossacks, come to the Powwow!
Where: Eucalyptus Grove on Stanford Campus.
When: May 10 - 12, 2013 Mother's Day Weekend. (5K "Fun Run and Walk" on Sat.)
Time: "Grand entry" is at 7 pm Friday, 1 pm & 7 pm Saturday, & 1 pm on Sun.
How (much): No entrance fee or registration required.
Who: You & anyone you know.