The pow-wow is very much like a holiday. It’s a time for families to get together; a time for tribal members who have moved away to return and visit; a happy time to share in the traditions of song and dance and the feast.

Young and old participate. The dances, songs and an appreciation for tribal heritage and culture are passed down from generation to generation.

Although the social element is very important, it’s not the only reason for the gathering. Some tribes use pow-wows to celebrate the harvest of wild rice and take the opportunity to show reverence for Mother Earth. There are even contest pow-wows where dancers and the various drums compete.

Pow-wows are open to the public. Visitors find the outfits worn by the dancers to be very colorful, intricate and therefore memorable. Dancers are responsible for creating their own outfits. Common materials used are beads, animal skins, and feathers.

Sometimes eagle feathers are used. The eagle is very sacred to Native Americans who, by law, are the only ones who can acquire an eagle feather. According to Native American tradition, a dropped feather is never to be photographed and a special ceremony must be held before it can be picked up.

Each pow-wow begins with what is called the grand entry. A staff of eagle feathers is in the lead, followed by veterans, head dancers, visiting royalty such as the tribal princess, and then various dancers grouped according to the style of dance they participate in.

The ‘music’ or dancing rhythms are provided by ‘drums:’ groups of tribal members sitting around large buckskin covered drums using padded drumsticks to strike the beat. It is often difficult for visitors to distinguish between songs, but to the Native American ear, there is great meaning in not only the music, but the chant.

In the men’s traditional dance, the dancers make motions like they are animals sneaking up on prey or warriors creeping up on the enemy.

The women’s traditional dance is slow and purposeful. A shawl is worn draped over the arm and the dancers often hold a fan made of feathers as they bounce gently to the beat of the drum.

The grass dancers wear outfits decorated with colorful long fringe that resembles field grass blowing in the wind as dancers move.

And the jingle dress dancers decorate their outfits with many cone shaped metal jingles that present a pleasant rhythm that mingles with the beat of the drum.

And there are special dances too, like the feather dance. It is sort of a test of endurance, as dancers are to dance up to the feather, bend down and pick it up with their teeth.

And in the social dance, or intertribal dance as it’s more commonly called, anyone, Indian or non-Indian, is invited to dance.

A pow-wow also includes the feast, where you may sample an Indian taco made with fry bread. There are also vendors offering Native American crafts, a great place to pick up a souvenir of your experience.

The pow-wow: a colorful event that the public is welcome to witness and enjoy. More importantly, the pow-wow is a way for tribal members in Wisconsin to celebrate their heritage.