Indian Pow Wow wows in Tulsa
Soon after crossing the Red River from Texas into Oklahoma, you notice a preponderance of Native American imagery on signs, license plates, and billboards. Turnpikes are named for tribes, and official signs along the highways announce when you’ve entered an Indian nation—for instance, the Creek Nation or the Choctaw Nation.
The history of the Oklahoma tribes is tragic. So there’s some irony in the widespread evocation of Indian (this seems to be the preferred term) history and culture in Oklahoma today. We’d never explored this culture until our trip to Tulsa last week, when we attended a pow wow, a social gathering of Native Americans for drumming, dancing, and ceremony.
Here are some images from the Intertribal Indian Club of Tulsa’s 2008 Pow Wow of Champions. My zoom lens lacked the power to shoot with clarity across the dimly lit hall. Despite the graininess of the images, I hope you’ll enjoy this glimpse of the colorful, rhythmic dances of the pow wow, as we did.
Children and adults danced in a wide circuit to the thrumming beat from an all-male drum circle. These two boys, one solemn, one frowning in concentration, stomped and kicked with gusto.
Another look
The dancers wore elaborate, colorful costumes. Our program noted that different tribes might wear different types of costumes, and the various dances require special accessories. Many of the dancers had sewn flashy, distinctly modern elements, like shiny, silver CD disks, onto their sleeves. The young man pictured above was striking in a silver lame tunic. Indian culture is a living culture, the program advised us, and dancers do not feel obligated to restrict themselves to traditional materials when making their pow wow costumes.
In contrast, this woman’s traditional-looking costume stood out among the dancers. I admired it as she shuffled with dignity around the floor.
Beautiful beadwork and ribbons on the back of her dress.
As she came around the circle again, she caught me looking.
A trio of young girls in shawls, warming up for the Shawl Dance, perhaps.
The men were the peacocks among the dancers. Their costumes glowed in almost neon colors, and many wore elaborate headdresses of feathers.
A trio of young men.
This boy was really dancing. I hope he won the children’s contest later on that evening.
The next generation
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I love the movement in these shots! Beautiful.
Thanks, Nancy. It was beautiful to see in person, and I just wish I could have captured the action better. —Pam
I agree with Nancy I love the moment and I thought you caught it well! It was my first thought when I opened your post. Thank you for answering my question about the colorful and non-traditional dress. I had wondered why they weren’t in ‘authentic’ costume! Gail
We were surprised by the modern colors and materials used too, believing at first that the pow wow was a celebration of Indian history and culture. But they clearly don’t feel obliged to be historically accurate. —Pam
Great photos! I still think the traditional costumes are the best–but I guess by using newer materials, they can make them just as colorful a lot faster!
Aiyana
Thanks, Aiyana. Modern materials might be less expensive and more readily available too. —Pam
Great post Pam. So enjoyable. You can learn a lot from the Native American. I did. I worked on reservation for a couple yrs. It sure was a learning experience. I also have had the honor to watch the play, “The Trail of Tears”. It’s very moving.
How interesting, Lola. I bet you did learn a lot there. Your mention of “The Trail of Tears” reminds me that I saw that too, years ago. —Pam
Vibrant colors worn in a beautiful way; these photos of the dancers would make gorgeous cards.
Terra
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Terra. Thanks for commenting. —Pam
Hi Pam, what a bit of nostalgia for me. Growing up, there were always pow wows and dances held at our elementary school. I wasn’t impressed by it at the time and some of the Indian kids were embarrassed too. That has really changed as Oklahoma decided to embrace that heritage that makes it unique. I remember going to Gilcrease museum on field trips and being bored to tears. I returned there as an adult and was blown away by the art. Have you ever gone? If not, be sure and visit next time you go see your mom.
I will remember to go visit Gilcrease next time I’m up there, Frances. Thanks for the recommendation. —Pam
I love the color in the costumes and that sparkle tunic… Divine! I wish I could come help you clean out your school bed. I have one to do also! Perhaps we could share the work. We’ll get Annie and the Divas to help us also.
I wish we could help each other too, Layanee. That would make it more fun. I hope you have fewer weeds in your school bed than I do in mine! —Pam
What an absolute feast for the eyes. So much beautiful color. You did a great job. I hope the little boy won the dance contest.
I’m glad you enjoyed the colorful images, Eve. Thanks for stopping by. —Pam
These images are just beautiful Pam. I have never been to a pow wow despite having a good friend that is of Osage Indian descent. She goes every year to a pow wow close to where she lives. I am drawn to the more traditional beading. I think it exquisite.
I hope you get to see one someday, Lisa. It was an interesting experience and quite a spectacle. —Pam
I really enjoyed these pictures! Brings back memories of going to Oklahoma to visit my great-grandmother. She was of Chickasaw descent and said she was the first “white” woman of record born in the Indian Territory(Oklahoma). One of her final wishes was for us grandchildren to complete the paperwork necessary to become registered as Chickasaws in case the government ever decided to “make it right” with the Indian Nations.
How interesting, Karla. Did you ever go to a pow-wow with her? —Pam
Great pictures. I feel I should point out the correct terminology is regalia, not costumes. A costume is something you wear at halloween.