The 64th Shinnecock Pow-wow Labor Day Weekend, 2010.
The Grand Entry - by Yasuko
Yasuko and I had a great time at the Shinnecock Powwow yesterday! It was such a beautiful, blue sky day, perfect temperature and just enough breeze to make things perfect. All around the stage there was a large number of small stores selling beautiful jewelry, arts and crafts and all sorts of delicious food, including our favorite, the Navajo Fry Bread. Awesome drumming and the culture of all the Native American regalia – in other words, an amazing opportunity to take a ton of beautiful pictures!
A pow-wow is a gathering of North America’s Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning “spiritual leader”.
A modern pow-wow is a specific type of event where both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American Indian culture. There is generally a dancing competition, often with significant prize money awarded. Pow-wows vary in length from one day session of 5 to 6 hours to three days.
A pow-wow session begins with the Grand Entry and, in most cases, a prayer. The Eagle Staff leads the Grand Entry, followed by flags, then the dancers, while one of the host drums sings an opening song. This event is sacred in nature, some pow-wows do not allow filming or photography during this time, though others allow it.
It has been a really amazing experience that has brought has back to our cross country trip and to our latest trip to New Mexico when, on Christmas Day, we witnessed the spectacular dance at Taos village. While the costumes were very different and the atmosphere was much less religious here, it was certainly the best Labor Day activity we have ever had, here in Long Island.
