Imagine a series of circles or rings, filled with action—sights, colors, tastes, smells, and sounds—all connected to and celebrating the American Indian heritage of the event’s participants. This image describes a modern American Indian powwow. At the center of a powwow are the dancers, scattered throughout a circular arena, wearing regalia (special dress or finery) in beautiful hues of blue, red, black, white, yellow, orange, and other colors of the rainbow. The dancers move to the beat of the drum and the song, making various movements according to their individual styles. The men’s bells and the women’s jingles offer a constant background of sound. Singers sit on the edge of the arena around a cow or buffalo hide drum, providing music for the dancers.

Click on the picture above to learn more about pow wow music.