March 7, 2019
By Paragon News Director Paul Joseph –
It’s a peek into our rich, Native American Culture. It’s an invitation to a powwow this weekend at SWOSU.
Some believe that the War dance Societies of the Ponca and other Southern Plains Tribes were the origin of the powwow.
Another belief is that when the Native American tribes were forced onto reservations, the government also forced them to have danced for the public to come and see.
Regardless, before each dance, they were lead through the town in a parade, now known as the Grand Entry.
Pow Wows are the Native American people’s way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships, and making new ones. This is a time method to renew Native American culture and preserve the rich heritage of American Indians.
An intertribal powwow will be held this Saturday at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Ruth Boyd says Saturday’s powwow is a culmination of the attributes of all of the many Native American cultures found in the students going to school at SWOSU.
Sponsored by the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and featuring the SWOSU Native American Student Association, the powwow is open to the public with free admission. The event is being held in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center on the SWOSU campus.
According to an internet website, the dances in a powwow have always been a very important part of the life of the American Indian. Today, most are social dances which might have had different meanings in earlier times. Although dance styles and content have changed, their meaning and importance has not.
Boyd says Saturday’s dances during the SWOSU powwow will be authentic.
Gourd Dancing takes place at 2 p.m. with a meal planned at 5 p.m. The Grand Entry and contests begin at 7 p.m. with the event closing at 10 p.m.
Visitors to the free event who have never witnessed a powwow or been exposed to Native American culture will walk away from Saturday event with a better understanding of the pride of being Native American and a feeling for how rich the culture actually is.
Visitors will walk away with a greater sense of respect.
The outfits worn by the dancers, like the styles of clothing today evolve over time. The outfits are examples – not a stagnant culture – but a vibrant and changing way of life.
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