Native American Research and Historical Preservation Society
137th O-Gah-Pah Tribe Pow-Wow
A traditional Pow Wow is a time for Native American people to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships and make new ones. It is a celebration of renewed thoughts of the old ways and to preserve a rich heritage.
The team attended the 137th O-Gah-Pah Tribe Pow-Wow. We would like to thank the tribal council of Quapaw
The entire team was excited about the idea of attending our first Pow wow. We had no idea what we were getting into or what to expect when we got there, we just knew we had to go.
Our experience was one that we will not soon forget. We have never experienced such a beautiful display of tradition. It was truly mesmerizing, how the Indian costums sparkled in the sunlight with vibrant colors, the drums, music and the dancers full of energy and life. We all sat in awe of the sights and sounds that surrounded us. We were honored by the genuine hospitality showed to us by the Quapaw tribe.
The pow-wow itself, with all the pageantry of the beautiful costumes and the fabulous music and singers: well, words cannot express how magical it was. We could have all sat to watched all night long.
We were most impressed at the young people who have embraced their heritage in such a way that it humbles us. Never have we witnessed such poise and respect in which these young people from toddler size to young adults carried themselves with pride as they danced and represented their heritage.
The older adults danced and walked with such pride that you could see the twinkle in their eye and the youth of yesterday in their stride.
In addition to the pow wow we had an opportunity to be invited to the campsite of our friend Pud Quapaw whom we met on our first trip to Quapaw, Oklahoma.
What a blessing and an honor to be included in this celebration. The warmth and generosity of the Quapaw family was so appreciated and un-expected. We as a group felt such emotions, as we had been invited to participate in a traditional ceremony carried down from many generations. We all felt a bit emotional during the ceremony and we can never express our gratitude.
They opened their camp site which has been in their family for many years in addition to inviting us to eat lunch the next day, We were amazed by how an entire meal was cooked on an open fire, had it been one of us, everything would have burned or stuck to the pan.
They were very understanding to our ignorance of the traditional ways and carefully explained about the ceremony so we could understand each step in the ceremony. We were invited to particpate in. It is a Quapaw custom that when a person passes on to dig the person's grave is an honor, and no one is to leave until the grave has been completely covered and the staff is placed upon the grave. (The staff is to help them on their journey to heaven)
It is custom to stay for 3 days to eat dinner in honor of the person who has passed, an invitation to dine with the family. After the 3 days every year for 3 years the family get together for a meal on the day of his passing, another invitation for the person who has passed to eat with his family.
A holyman or shamin will use the hot coals from the open fire that the meal was cooked and place the coals in a bucket and add cedar and other leaves to the hot coals, after the prayer for the loved one who has passed on, (the family stands in a circle during this prayer) Then one by one the family members pass by three members of the tribe, one being the son of the person who has passed on. Each member recieves a laddel of water to wash their face and hands, then they all dry their hands on a ceremonial cloth and then step in front of the shaman where you cleanse yourself with the smoke from the leaves and cedar, the shaman will then wave a hawk feather over the smoke towards you and tap you 3 times on each side of your body and then place the feathers over your heart, you embrace and wait for the other to complete the same.
Before anyone may eat, you must drink from a cup of water, another cleansing. Certian items are placed on your plate prior to the ceremony. These item are, a pieces of fruit, a cookie, and tobacco, and cigerette, these are placed inside a paper bag, it is an old customer these items are for the journey home, since back in the old days families traveled many miles to attend this ceremony. Once the items are placed in the bag you may being your meal.
It was truely an honor to have been invited to pay our respects in the customs of the Quapaw people.
And as we leave Quapaw that after noon we had time to reflect on all our experiences and what we left with was a longing we have never felt before, could it be a longing to find our own hertiage, it touched our hearts in such a profound way, we will never forget those feelings and emotions we experienced.
What we thought was a good way of getting pictures for our website turned out to be something far more important that we all ever imagined, in some way I think we felt a connection, that goes much deeper than what you see on the outside…it is on the inside a deep feeling of familiarity and of comfort, the drums and heart beat of our ancesters calling to us. We like to think so.
We look forward to the 138th annual O-Gah-Pah, pow-wow.
We would like to thank the tribal council of Quapaw for sharing their beautiful ceremony with us. But most of all we would like to send out a special thank you to the Quapaw Family who opened up their campsite by inviting us to come and share in a private dinner held in honor of their Uncle John who had passed a year ago and extended their friendship to our team. We have made some new friends and will cherish this friendship for years to come.
Postings of investigation of three burial grounds and photos of POW POW to be publish soon....as will as a tribute to the Quapaw family and new found friend Pud (J.E.) Quapaw.
The team attended the 137th O-Gah-Pah Tribe Pow-Wow. We would like to thank the tribal council of Quapaw
The entire team was excited about the idea of attending our first Pow wow. We had no idea what we were getting into or what to expect when we got there, we just knew we had to go.
Our experience was one that we will not soon forget. We have never experienced such a beautiful display of tradition. It was truly mesmerizing, how the Indian costums sparkled in the sunlight with vibrant colors, the drums, music and the dancers full of energy and life. We all sat in awe of the sights and sounds that surrounded us. We were honored by the genuine hospitality showed to us by the Quapaw tribe.
The pow-wow itself, with all the pageantry of the beautiful costumes and the fabulous music and singers: well, words cannot express how magical it was. We could have all sat to watched all night long.
We were most impressed at the young people who have embraced their heritage in such a way that it humbles us. Never have we witnessed such poise and respect in which these young people from toddler size to young adults carried themselves with pride as they danced and represented their heritage.
The older adults danced and walked with such pride that you could see the twinkle in their eye and the youth of yesterday in their stride.
In addition to the pow wow we had an opportunity to be invited to the campsite of our friend Pud Quapaw whom we met on our first trip to Quapaw, Oklahoma.
What a blessing and an honor to be included in this celebration. The warmth and generosity of the Quapaw family was so appreciated and un-expected. We as a group felt such emotions, as we had been invited to participate in a traditional ceremony carried down from many generations. We all felt a bit emotional during the ceremony and we can never express our gratitude.
They opened their camp site which has been in their family for many years in addition to inviting us to eat lunch the next day, We were amazed by how an entire meal was cooked on an open fire, had it been one of us, everything would have burned or stuck to the pan.
They were very understanding to our ignorance of the traditional ways and carefully explained about the ceremony so we could understand each step in the ceremony. We were invited to particpate in. It is a Quapaw custom that when a person passes on to dig the person's grave is an honor, and no one is to leave until the grave has been completely covered and the staff is placed upon the grave. (The staff is to help them on their journey to heaven)
It is custom to stay for 3 days to eat dinner in honor of the person who has passed, an invitation to dine with the family. After the 3 days every year for 3 years the family get together for a meal on the day of his passing, another invitation for the person who has passed to eat with his family.
A holyman or shamin will use the hot coals from the open fire that the meal was cooked and place the coals in a bucket and add cedar and other leaves to the hot coals, after the prayer for the loved one who has passed on, (the family stands in a circle during this prayer) Then one by one the family members pass by three members of the tribe, one being the son of the person who has passed on. Each member recieves a laddel of water to wash their face and hands, then they all dry their hands on a ceremonial cloth and then step in front of the shaman where you cleanse yourself with the smoke from the leaves and cedar, the shaman will then wave a hawk feather over the smoke towards you and tap you 3 times on each side of your body and then place the feathers over your heart, you embrace and wait for the other to complete the same.
Before anyone may eat, you must drink from a cup of water, another cleansing. Certian items are placed on your plate prior to the ceremony. These item are, a pieces of fruit, a cookie, and tobacco, and cigerette, these are placed inside a paper bag, it is an old customer these items are for the journey home, since back in the old days families traveled many miles to attend this ceremony. Once the items are placed in the bag you may being your meal.
It was truely an honor to have been invited to pay our respects in the customs of the Quapaw people.
And as we leave Quapaw that after noon we had time to reflect on all our experiences and what we left with was a longing we have never felt before, could it be a longing to find our own hertiage, it touched our hearts in such a profound way, we will never forget those feelings and emotions we experienced.
What we thought was a good way of getting pictures for our website turned out to be something far more important that we all ever imagined, in some way I think we felt a connection, that goes much deeper than what you see on the outside…it is on the inside a deep feeling of familiarity and of comfort, the drums and heart beat of our ancesters calling to us. We like to think so.
We look forward to the 138th annual O-Gah-Pah, pow-wow.
We would like to thank the tribal council of Quapaw for sharing their beautiful ceremony with us. But most of all we would like to send out a special thank you to the Quapaw Family who opened up their campsite by inviting us to come and share in a private dinner held in honor of their Uncle John who had passed a year ago and extended their friendship to our team. We have made some new friends and will cherish this friendship for years to come.
Postings of investigation of three burial grounds and photos of POW POW to be publish soon....as will as a tribute to the Quapaw family and new found friend Pud (J.E.) Quapaw.
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People gathered to sing, dance, renew old friendships and form new ones. The circle is an important symbol to Native Americans. The drums and singers are in the center, the dancers form a circle around them and the audience circle around them and the concessions surround the gathering. The Powwow brings the circle of people closer to family, friends, and the comfort and vitality of their culture.
The grand entry, the parade of dancers, opens each session of Powwow dancing. The staff is carried into the circle, followed by the American, state and tribal flags. Title holders from tribal pageants and invited dignitaries are next. The men follow traditional dancers first, jingle dress dancers, junior boys, then junior girls follow in the same order. Last come the little boys and girls.
The dancers perform clockwise around the drums. Their outfits and their steps let the audience and other participants know who they are and what they can do.
After the grand entry, there is a flag song, then an invocation blessing the gathering. The staff, signifying the First Nation, is positioned above the American flag and tied to the pole in the center, the dancing then begins.
Songs are created and performed for different events, such as grand entries, dance categories and honoring ceremonies. While they differ in tempo, words, and emotions.
There are songs for all occasions: honor songs, veteran songs, and war party songs. Song groups sing only their own songs, while others borrow and perform their on as well.
The drum is more that a musical instrument to those who own and play it. It has a life of its own and its own powerful spirit. Gifts are made to it and some have their own sacred medicine pipes. The drum symbolizes the heartbeat or the powerful medicine of thunder. Some drums are handed down in the family, sometimes donated to a group. The term "drum" also refers to the drum group itself.
The men's traditional dance began when war parties would return to the village and "dance out" the story of a battle and when hunters would dance their story of tracking prey. The outfit is subdued in color, often decorated with bead and quill work, the circular bustle of eagle feather "spikes" point upward, representing a channel between the great spirit and all things on the earth. Movements imitate the life journey of birds and animals.
Dancers keep their heads moving either up and down with the beat of the drum nodding quickly several times to each beat, or moving from side to side. This keeps the roach crest feathers spinning, a sign of a good dancer.
The men's fancy dance uses brilliantly colored feather bustles and is performed by boys and young men. It deviates with fancy footwork, increased speed, acrobatic steps and motions, and varied body movements. It is freestyle. Dancers must follow the changing beat of the drum and stop when the music does with both feet on the ground.
The women's fancy shawl dance outfit consists of a decorative knee-length cloth dress, beaded moccasins with matching leggings, fancy shawl, and jewelry.
The jingle dance is performed by women wearing outfits covered with hundreds of metal cones or jingles.
In the intertribal dance, everyone, including spectators, are welcomed to dance. No regalia is needed and is not a particular kind of dance.
The grand entry, the parade of dancers, opens each session of Powwow dancing. The staff is carried into the circle, followed by the American, state and tribal flags. Title holders from tribal pageants and invited dignitaries are next. The men follow traditional dancers first, jingle dress dancers, junior boys, then junior girls follow in the same order. Last come the little boys and girls.
The dancers perform clockwise around the drums. Their outfits and their steps let the audience and other participants know who they are and what they can do.
After the grand entry, there is a flag song, then an invocation blessing the gathering. The staff, signifying the First Nation, is positioned above the American flag and tied to the pole in the center, the dancing then begins.
Songs are created and performed for different events, such as grand entries, dance categories and honoring ceremonies. While they differ in tempo, words, and emotions.
There are songs for all occasions: honor songs, veteran songs, and war party songs. Song groups sing only their own songs, while others borrow and perform their on as well.
The drum is more that a musical instrument to those who own and play it. It has a life of its own and its own powerful spirit. Gifts are made to it and some have their own sacred medicine pipes. The drum symbolizes the heartbeat or the powerful medicine of thunder. Some drums are handed down in the family, sometimes donated to a group. The term "drum" also refers to the drum group itself.
The men's traditional dance began when war parties would return to the village and "dance out" the story of a battle and when hunters would dance their story of tracking prey. The outfit is subdued in color, often decorated with bead and quill work, the circular bustle of eagle feather "spikes" point upward, representing a channel between the great spirit and all things on the earth. Movements imitate the life journey of birds and animals.
Dancers keep their heads moving either up and down with the beat of the drum nodding quickly several times to each beat, or moving from side to side. This keeps the roach crest feathers spinning, a sign of a good dancer.
The men's fancy dance uses brilliantly colored feather bustles and is performed by boys and young men. It deviates with fancy footwork, increased speed, acrobatic steps and motions, and varied body movements. It is freestyle. Dancers must follow the changing beat of the drum and stop when the music does with both feet on the ground.
The women's fancy shawl dance outfit consists of a decorative knee-length cloth dress, beaded moccasins with matching leggings, fancy shawl, and jewelry.
The jingle dance is performed by women wearing outfits covered with hundreds of metal cones or jingles.
In the intertribal dance, everyone, including spectators, are welcomed to dance. No regalia is needed and is not a particular kind of dance.
