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Powwow Etiquette for Visitors and Newcomers
- Bring your own seating when attending
powwows, because public seating is the exception rather than the rule. Lawn
chairs are the most common way of solving this.
- Do not sit on the benches around the arena.
These benches are reserved for the dancers only. You may set up your chairs
directly behind the benches, and it is usually good courtesy to ask the
permission of the dancer whose bench you are sitting behind, as he/she might
have family who are going to sit by him or her.
- Ask permission before taking pictures of
dancers. Many people are sensitive about pictures, so it is always good
to be on the safe side and ask.
- Donate money to the Drum. This is done
during a blanket dance, when a blanket will be laid out on the ground and a
song or songs will be sung. It is customary to place a dollar bill (or more
if you wish) on the blanket and dance the rest of that song, regardless of
if you are dressed or not. If you don't want to dance, you should ask a
dancer to place the money on the drum for you. The drum has probably
traveled a great distance to give you the beautiful songs you hear, and
count on this to help pay their expenses.
- Always stand during special songs. This
includes Grand Entry, Flag Songs, Veteran Songs, Memorial Songs, Prayer
Songs, or any other song that the M.C. designates. It is also customary to
remove any hats that you have on for the duration of that song.
- Always listen to the M.C. He will give
all of the information you need, as well as entertain you and keep you
posted on news. Any questions you have can be answered by him.
- Remember you are a guest. Have fun, ask
questions and meet people. Everyone is welcome
Etiquette for Dancers
- Never come to a Powwow intoxicated or bring alcohol!
- Be on time, dressed and ready to go before Grand
Entry. It is a bad habit to not make Grand Entry, and may lose you points if
you are competing!
- Place your blanket on the bench you want to sit
at ahead of time. Nothing is worse than not having a seat after the dancing
has begun! Never sit on someone else's blanket without their permission.
- Dance as many dances as you can. It is in bad
taste to dance only a few of the dances. At Formal War Dances, you will not
be allowed to take a break until everyone does.
- Give respect to the Head Man and Lady. Don't
begin dancing until they do, and honor them in their Special with a dollar
bill given to them in a handshake.
- If you wish to honor a person, place a gift at their
feet while they are dancing. If you are honored in this way, dance in
place by your gift until the Arena Director or another person picks it up
off of the ground and gives it to you. Never pick it up yourself.
- If you drop some part of your regalia, don't pick it
up! Dance in place beside it until the Arena Director picks it up for
you. You will probably be asked to give something for its return to you. All
dropped articles belong to the Arena Director. When an Eagle feather is
dropped, the powwow is stopped and a ceremony is performed to pick it up. A
elder is asked to pick up the feather, and he will keep the feather.
- In a Two Step, it is ladies' choice. If you
refuse to dance with the first person who asks you, you must give her at
least five or ten dollars (the M.C. will usually say). The same rule applies
to a hat or shawl dance.
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