Pow Wows

Pow Wows are either:
1. Traditional - No contests, some exhibitions, usually a feast, open to 
everybody
   free, anybody can get up and dance, sometimes there's a giveaway or a name 
giving.
2. Competition/Contest - You pay to get in, no free feast, there are contests, 
dancers win money, they are often intertribal and open to everybody.
3. General - To honor an event like for a returning veteran, a death in the 
community, feast and giveaway.
4. Ceremonial - Like the 4 day Sun Dance, epitomizes spirituality.

The Ojibwe Eagle Staff has 
1. Mink Hide Covering
2. 8 small eagle feathers
3. Canadian medallion
4. 4 colored ribbons
5. printed cloth
6. 20m eagle feathers (bottom and top are spotted)
7. staff

1. The significance of exchanging gifts at a pow wow is that the person honored 
gives the gifts away.

2. The two types of drums used are drums covered by hides and contemporary bass 
drums.

3. The drum beat signifies the heartbeat and in some traditions the medicine of 
thunder.
4. The vocables of chants are syllables without meaning used to carry the melody.
5. The flag song is equivalent to the anthem of the nation.
6. The American, Canadian, state and tribal flags are carried in during the 
Grand Entry.
7. When an honor song is sung it is customary and stand in silence.
8. The eagle represents the thunderbird, the messenger of the Creator. 
9. Whe an eagle feather is dropped  by accident, the veterans and a drum sing a 
brave man song
and a wounded veteran picks up the feather and returns it to its owner. Then the
 owner gives him a gift.
10. The role of the head dancers is to guide and direct the dancers. They start 
the dances.
11. The head singer must know all the songs and often starts the singing/drumming.













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