The 43rd Wichita Annual Pow Wow

My uncle (dressed in black) is a traditional Straight War Dancer.

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It's been a while since I've posted a story but I thought that I would do better by posting a few videos of the 43rd Annual Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Pow Wow. Enjoy the sights and sound of this awesome Pow Wow.

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​For my Non-Native friends, a pow wow is not a meeting. It is a social gathering, a dance, a spiritual ceremony, and a family-get-together, all rolled into one incredible experience. This part of the pow wow is called The Grand Entry. It's like an introduction of the dancers and it is an honor song for the arena. Prior to this was the flag song, which is like the pledge of allegiance and a song that honors all those who have served in the military. The Flag Song also honors those who have lost their lives in military service. (It's not polite to record flag songs so no video here.) Near the center of the arena are the United States flag, the Oklahoma State flag, and the Southwest Vietnam Veterans Society's flag.

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There are several different types of dances (and drum styles) which is why you see so many people wearing different types of tribal regalia. For the women the dances are jingle dress, fancy shawl, southern cloth, and a couple that I'm not too familiar with. For the men there are the gourd dance, traditional straight dance, Northern grass dance, and the Fancy dance. Near the center holding the flags and dancing behind the flag bearers are military veterans, and yes they are all women. It might surprise some people to learn that Native Americans have the highest military enlistment rate of any other group per capita in the U.S.

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The music is provided by drum groups. There are actually three drum groups (singers) at this pow wow. In the center are the O-Ha-Ma Lodge, to the right out of the video is the host drum the Grass Lodge Singers, and near the east entrance of the arena is the drum group Roanhorse. The singers are pretty amazing. They know hundreds of songs in many different tribal languages. It would be the equivalent of your favorite band singing songs in Spanish, English, French, Mandarin, and Japanese. And yes even here, kids are on their phones lol.

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​This is an Intertribal Song, which means that anyone can dance regardless of dance style. Here, in the foreground, you can see the Fancy Dancers. They are always a crowd favorite and their dance style is very dynamic. In the background you can see a few Southern Straight War Dancers. It is probably the oldest of the dances and, at times, it looks like the dancers are emulating hunting.