Powwow history

Measured steps

Powwow history recalled, dance styles shared

FLATHEAD RESERVATION — For 121 years the rich sounds of summer powwows filtered through the summer air on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The jingle dress was said to sound like rain as the dancers circle around the powwow grounds with the echo of drum songs creating the heartbeat of each dance.

The Arlee Powow Esyapqeyni (celebration) grounds will be silent again this year during the first week in July due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other powwows on the reservation. The Arlee Powwow Celebration Committee decided to cancel the event both this year and last as it draws large crowds of people from all over the world. “We considered the health and safety of our community a priority along with our visiting and neighboring communities,” the committee wrote.

Committee leaders stated that the powwow will return in the future, but for now, a look toward the celebration’s history can help us imagine the rich sounds of a summer powwow. Willie Stevens, chairman of the Powwow Committee, has said that a powwow was historically a time when Native American people came together during the summer months.

“The people wouldn’t see each other all winter,” he said, adding that many Salish people lived in smaller family groups and would winter in one spot. It was a way for people to get together to catch up with extended family and friends.

According to information compiled by Montana’s Indian Education for All committee, “dancing was one of the first aspects of Native American culture to come under criticism by missionaries and the federal government. In the 1880s, the federal government forbade most forms of dancing fearing that all dancing was a form of

JINGLE DRESS DANCING 2018 ARLEE POWWOW ESYAPQEYNI

FROM PAGE 5 war dancing. The ghost dance was especially feared. It was not until the 1920s that Native peoples were again allowed to dance and practice parts of their religion.”

The Arlee Celebration began during the first weekend in July of 1898 after local tribal members came up with an idea to get around cultural suppression measures of the time. They decided to develop a powwow and call it a Fourth of July celebration so that the government would allow it. The Arlee Celebration has been held the first week in July ever since.

The permanent location for the celebration was designated on Pow Wow Road in Arlee where a pavilion shades dancers from the summer sun. Stevens said that it was possible that about 10,000 people attended the event during a regular year now that it’s open to the public. The celebration often includes about 60 dance categories from Men’s Traditional to Contemporary Jingle. The State of Montana compiled a description of those dances for their Indian Education for All guide by Murton McCluskey.

Men’s Traditional Dance is said to be a dance “held over from times when war parties would return to the village and dance out the story of the battle or hunters would return and dance their story of tracking an enemy or prey.” Regalia is often decorated with beadwork or feathers. The dancers are often veterans who carry traditional items symbolizing the status of a warrior, including a shield, weapon, and honor staff. “The traditional step is done with the ball of the foot touching the ground on the first beat, and the whole foot on the second beat. The traditional dancer’s movements are patterned after animals and birds, like the grouse, and maybe an imitation of the tracking of the animals themselves.”

The Fancy Dance was danced mostly by young men and boys and said to be based on the standard double step of the traditional grass dances with increased speed, motion and movement. Dancers “must follow the changing beat of the drum, stop when the music dies and have both feet on the ground.” The regalia was described as featuring “a good deal of colorful fringe” to accent the movement of the dancer.

The War Dance was once a major event that was performed after battle. Men who were returning from war entered the village in a procession while acting our their “exploits in the battle” through dance. “The War Dance for the contemporary American Indian does not exclude women and is a main part of all powwows for many tribes.”

Traditional Women’s

Dance can include a shawl, ribbon work, decorated moccasins, feather fan and various pieces of jewelry. “The design of each dress had a symbolic meaning to the individual owner.” It is said that dancing slowly around the circle is acceptable as well as is subtly shifting the feet. “At certain points in the song, women may hear words that have meaning to them. They may signal their pride and acknowledge the words by raising their fans. Others raise their fans during the honor beats of the song.”

Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance is a “relatively new addition” to the dance competition. “Until recently, women performed their fancy dancing in traditional garb. Some accounts say, in the early 1900s, shawls replaced the blankets and buffalo robes young girls traditionally wore in public. In the 30s and 40s, young women would show off the shawls they made by doing some fancy footwork during the dances. Some say that was how the Women’s Fancy Shawl dance was born.” Footwork is said to be the main element of the dance. Dancers follow the changing beat of the drum and stop with the music.

Jingle Dress Dance is thought to come from a dream about four women wearing jingle dresses. The women showed the man how to make the dresses and what songs went with it, “but until recently, the jingle dress dance had all but died out. Now interest in the jingle dress is rekindled and women from many tribes are beginning to wear them.” Hundreds of metal cones or jingles cover the dress. The dancers keep time with the music and stop when it does.

The Owl Dance is performed by couples to the beat of a drum. “It is performed at social events and all ages participate.”

The Round Dance “evolved into a dance of friendship” that is performed by all ages and is easily taught to tourists. “Everyone is encouraged to dance by forming a circle and dancing in a clockwise circle.” Regalia is not necessary.

Intertribal Dancers move clockwise and everyone is welcome to dance in regalia or street clothes. The basic step is that one foot is tapped on one beat and placed down flatly with the next and the action is repeated with the opposite foot.

Exhibition Dances “give dancers an opportunity to exhibit their specific style” without being judged. “Usually, each category will have an exhibition dance.”

Dropped Eagle Feather Dance includes a ceremony where spectators should stand and remove their hats. Picture taking, with still or video cameras, is not permitted. “To most Native Americans the eagle feather is sacred. So, when a feather falls from a dancer’s outfit, the pow wow must stop and a special ceremony must be performed.”

Barring any further cancellations, powwows in the summer of 2022 promise to be extra special. Powwows will celebrate not only coming together for the warm summer months but also allow families and neighbors close contact following years of separation due to the global pandemic.

Story by Karen Greene / Valley Journal, photos by Karen Greene, Nicole Tavenner and Ben Stone

MEN’S TRADITIONAL DANCE, ARLEE CELEBRATION

DAYTON — This year marks the 30th anniversary of Dayton Daze - the Chief Cliff VFD/QRU’s annual fundraiser. This year’s event will be held once again on Sept. 11.

In remembrance of the many lives lost during the attack on the Twin Towers, Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 on 9/11, organizers have chosen to honor all first responders this year, including firefighters, emergency medical personnel and law enforcement.

This event takes place on a Saturday, as always, and festivities will start at noon with craft booths, kids’ games, silent auction, can raffle, soft drinks, beer, free hot dogs, rifle raffle (tickets available at the Polson Farmers Market throughout the summer) and more. The parade starts at 1 p.m. with prizes for best entries, and best costumes.

Whether you dress as a firefighter, police officer or EMT, choose to honor a hero from one of our military branches or even channel a fictional superhero, which might be more fun for the youngsters, you’ll be guaranteed a full afternoon of family-friendly entertainment. This is your opportunity to put together a great costume (and float) to show your support for the brave men and women who run toward danger when everyone else is running away – all while helping to raise funds for the Chief Cliff VFD and QRU. For more information, call Zoe at 406849-5917.

DAYTON DAZE

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