Choctaw Casino Pow Wow Gallery 2 ~ Durant OK 2010

Credit Above & All Photos: Ginger Reddick

American Indian Pow Wow :: Choctaw Powwow 2010

Photo Credit: Ginger Reddick Choctaw Powwow

What is a Native American Pow Wow?

A Native American pow wow is a celebration of heritage and traditions. It is a way for Native Americans to connect with each other while keeping their culture alive through dance, song and storytelling. For those events that are open to the public, Native American pow wows provide opportunities to educate non-natives about their culture and traditions. While Native American pow wows occur year-round, the majority are held between Memorial Day and Labor Day throughout the US and Canada. They are an important part of Native American life and a lot of fun for all who attend. For a list of pow wow events, see our Native American Pow Wow Calendar.

Men’s Fancy Dance

The Men’s Fancy dance (also referred to as Feather Dance) competition is usually considered the most spectacular of the men’s pow wow dances. It is usually performed by younger, athletic dancers due to the strength and stamina required. Feather dance contest songs are generally short, with a very fast tempo. While all contest dancers need to know the songs to stop firmly on that last beat, it’s particularly important for a feather dancer as ‘nailing’ the end of a very fast song is almost impossible without knowing the song. View Men’s Fancy Dance Gallery

Men’s Northern Traditional Dance

The Northern Traditional dancer is a modern evolution of tribal outfits from the tribes of the Northern Plains such as Sioux, Blackfoot, Crow, Omaha and others. Northern traditional dancers demonstrate a style of dance that evolved from the old form of war dance. The dance depicts the telling of a war story or hunting expedition. Other dancers also imitate wildlife such as horses, birds or buffalo while performing. View Men’s Northern Traditional Dance Gallery

Men’s Grass Dance

The Men’s Grass Dance is a beautiful and flowing style, one where the grass dancers use a lot of shoulder, arm, and head movements. Powwows today classify the Grass Dance into two categories: old style and free style. The old style of Grass Dance is further divided into the American old style and Canadian old style. However, many grass dancers maintain that the dance is the same and varies only by individual interpretation. Whatever the case, Grass Dance is now one of the most competitive forms of Northern Plains dancing to be found today at powwows. View Men’s Grass Dance Gallery

Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance

The Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance is a beautiful and very strenuous Native American dance style typically performed by younger ladies and girls at Native American events. It is a fast dance that requires stamina and gracefulness, along with intricate footwork. Each dancer wears a fancy shawl decorated with colorful designs made of appliqué, ribbons and painting. The shawl has long fringe or ribbons that flow with the movements of the dancer. Fancy Shawl Dancers create the illusion of a butterfly floating through the air by dancing light on their feet and twirling around with their shawl extended like butterfly wings. View Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance Gallery