Powwow History & Information

The word "Indian" evolved from the term "Los Indios", meaning the people of the Indies, when Columbus thought he had landed there. "The First Peoples" or "Indigenous Peoples" is really accurate; "Original Americans" is O.K., but most people have become accustomed to "Native Americans", or "American Indian". It's more respectful of an ancient race which is, after all, one of the four races of man: Black, White, Yellow and Red.

WHAT IS A POWWOW ~ A BRIEF HISTORY
The word powwow is derived from the Algonquian term "pau-qau" or Pauau", which referred to a gathering of medicine men and/or spiritual leaders. The powwow has roots in a Pawnee religious ceremony that was practiced early in the 19th centryy and was adopted by the Omaha and other tribes who then added speechmaking, gift giving and the feast.

The history of the powwow is somewhat vague. However, there are records and accounts of the powwow event going back as far as 100 years or more. Their is evidence that shows an attempt to hold a 4th of July Powwow in 1891. This was in Arlee, Montana on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Traders and Vendors
Since the beginning of time, the people of earth have traded with each other exchanging everything from food to fur. So was born our modern-day barter system. Natives are, and were, master traders. There was trade between tribes of the same Nation, as well as between Nations. When the Southwest was first being settled, the early non-Native businesses were the traders. The large traders had "lending corners" where money could be borrowed with the more elaborate craft items left for security. This was the first step toward banking institutions long before there were actual banks established in these areas.

This tradition is still alive today, and every PowWow has traders who have bought items from Natives in various parts of the country, and usually from reservations. You can find Eskimo scrimshaw, Kachinas, hides, fur pelts, beads, Navajo rugs, and all sorts of treasures if you pause to look at the wares offered by the traders.

They have pegboards and glass counters loaded with magnificent jewelry, belts, and everything you can imagine. It is all handmade, it is usually silver with turquoise and coral, or it is finely worked leather.There are also vendors who sell art, music, books, clothing, and all manner of handcrafted items. Most make their own crafts, and you can watch them at work in their booths.

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