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Orca Origins Series
Powwow: A Celebration through Song and Dance
Powwow is a celebration of Indigenous song and dance. Journey through the history of powwow culture in North America, from its origins to the thriving powwow culture of today. As a lifelong competitive powwow dancer, Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane is a guide to the protocols, regalia, songs, dances and even food you can find at powwows from coast to coast, as well as the important role they play in Indigenous culture and reconciliation.
88 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 14, 2020
"Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances."
- Maya Angelou
The dedication is "To the Eight Fire, and to those who work to build understanding that will move us toward peace, harmony and healing."
POWWOW: A Celebration through Song and Dance by Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane is colourful and well organized. The Contents shows page numbers for Introduction, Chapters, Glossary, Resources, Index and Acknowledgements.
Chapter one tells about the origins of powwow culture, chapter two explains powwow culture, chapter three is about the powwow songs and dances and chapter four tells about powwows from coast to coast.
There are numerous beautiful coloured photographs in this book making it attractive and interesting for students.
Here are some interesting quotes from this book -
"The powwow grounds are blessed, usually by Elders, before the event begins. Prayers, songs and the burning of safe or tobacco make sure that the space is empowering."
"The First Nations University Powwow at the University of Regina is Canada's longest-running competition powwow."
"Alberta's oldest and largest powwow event began in 1912 as the Calgary Stampede and Indian Village."
"Wild rice is actually a kind of grass that grows in water. Indigenous Peoples have been harvesting wild rice in North America for around 12,000 years."
Several years ago April, a colleague of mine, told me that the eagle feather is important to Indigenous Peoples. So I was not surprised to read the following quote.
"The eagle feather is of great spiritual importance to Indigenous Peoples. In some territories, if an eagle feather falls on the ground at a powwow, only a wounded veteran can pick it up."
"Many tribal nations, especially in eastern North America, traditionally grew corn, beans and squash. These vegetables are often called the Three Sisters, because when growing together, they grow better. Corn needs lots of nitrogen, which is produced by beans, and squash plants spread and prevent weeds from growing. When eating together, they are very nutritious, providing a perfect balance of starch (carbohydrates), proteins, fibre and important nutrients like vitamin A. At powwows, depending on the region and season, you will often find food vendors offering delicious and healthy Three Sisters soups and stews."
The previous quote was meaningful to me because I first heard about the Three Sisters and the Three Sisters soups and stews, two or three weeks ago, when I read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
This is a great resource book or textbook on Powwows for elementary or middle grade teachers and or students doing research on the topic.
- Maya Angelou
The dedication is "To the Eight Fire, and to those who work to build understanding that will move us toward peace, harmony and healing."
POWWOW: A Celebration through Song and Dance by Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane is colourful and well organized. The Contents shows page numbers for Introduction, Chapters, Glossary, Resources, Index and Acknowledgements.
Chapter one tells about the origins of powwow culture, chapter two explains powwow culture, chapter three is about the powwow songs and dances and chapter four tells about powwows from coast to coast.
There are numerous beautiful coloured photographs in this book making it attractive and interesting for students.
Here are some interesting quotes from this book -
"The powwow grounds are blessed, usually by Elders, before the event begins. Prayers, songs and the burning of safe or tobacco make sure that the space is empowering."
"The First Nations University Powwow at the University of Regina is Canada's longest-running competition powwow."
"Alberta's oldest and largest powwow event began in 1912 as the Calgary Stampede and Indian Village."
"Wild rice is actually a kind of grass that grows in water. Indigenous Peoples have been harvesting wild rice in North America for around 12,000 years."
Several years ago April, a colleague of mine, told me that the eagle feather is important to Indigenous Peoples. So I was not surprised to read the following quote.
"The eagle feather is of great spiritual importance to Indigenous Peoples. In some territories, if an eagle feather falls on the ground at a powwow, only a wounded veteran can pick it up."
"Many tribal nations, especially in eastern North America, traditionally grew corn, beans and squash. These vegetables are often called the Three Sisters, because when growing together, they grow better. Corn needs lots of nitrogen, which is produced by beans, and squash plants spread and prevent weeds from growing. When eating together, they are very nutritious, providing a perfect balance of starch (carbohydrates), proteins, fibre and important nutrients like vitamin A. At powwows, depending on the region and season, you will often find food vendors offering delicious and healthy Three Sisters soups and stews."
The previous quote was meaningful to me because I first heard about the Three Sisters and the Three Sisters soups and stews, two or three weeks ago, when I read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
This is a great resource book or textbook on Powwows for elementary or middle grade teachers and or students doing research on the topic.
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February 18, 2022I wish I had time to read this now but anyway, as I page through it, it looks *amazing* and I hope every educator shares it with their children/students.
February 2022
February 2022
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March 23, 2021This is a must-have for resource for libraries and classrooms at upper elementary, middle grade, and high school. The nonfiction content advances the understanding of non-Native readers that Indigenous People are not a monolith, not consigned to distorted history, and that they are EVERYWHERE, including in urban communities.
These are essential conceptual developments/corrections for non-native folks, but are presented within an appealing book that combines highly readable and exciting text with a glorious array of color photos that present the celebratory, competitive, and cultural significance of POWWOW. The traditional clothing, dance, music, drumming, gatherings, foods, and interactions are presented in a powerful invitation to honor heritage and replace misconceptions, learning gaps, and stereotypical biases.
These are essential conceptual developments/corrections for non-native folks, but are presented within an appealing book that combines highly readable and exciting text with a glorious array of color photos that present the celebratory, competitive, and cultural significance of POWWOW. The traditional clothing, dance, music, drumming, gatherings, foods, and interactions are presented in a powerful invitation to honor heritage and replace misconceptions, learning gaps, and stereotypical biases.
July 13, 2020
This was clearly targeted towards children, but I am so happy that it was! Children need resources to learn about the history of Native Americans and their cultural celebrations (this whole series is centered on celebrations like birthday parties, Ramadan, Holi, etc) and I thought this book was well-constructed and loaded with pictures of the author and her family celebrating and dancing at powwows. Even if you're not a child, I would bet that most Americans could read this and learn something new, so overall it's a very useful book.
January 10, 2021
A beautiful and accessible intro to powwow culture, with lots of photos and a glossary. This is one I think I will hand to kids often.
October 27, 2020
This is a fantastic book aimed at middle school aged kids that explains in great detail the indigenous North American powwow tradition. It contains a great deal of information about powwow culture, the many tribes who participate, and the healing that it has brought to indigenous communities. The most wonderful aspect of this book is the beautiful photos, and I am not just saying this because a relative is one of the contributing photographers. This would be a fantastic resource for schools. I have always wanted to go to a powwow, and now that desire is even stronger.
September 13, 2021
Very timely nonfiction books for kids! We have been seeing on the news lately of 100s of indigenous children's bodies were found at Canadian Indian Residential Schools....
This book does a great job of explaining briefly the native american/indigenous people struggles. Chapter one goes through their history and why so much of it was lost and why it is taking a long time to recover. Chapter 2 goes over what Powwow Culture is! The rest of the book goes through songs, dances, and Powwows from Coast to Coast and why they are all so different!
Highly recommend!
This book does a great job of explaining briefly the native american/indigenous people struggles. Chapter one goes through their history and why so much of it was lost and why it is taking a long time to recover. Chapter 2 goes over what Powwow Culture is! The rest of the book goes through songs, dances, and Powwows from Coast to Coast and why they are all so different!
Highly recommend!
September 21, 2022
A fascinating, page-turner, filled with beautiful photographs of dancers, history, personal experiences, and even recipes.
As a dancer since I was 3, I feel a kinship with the author for the sense of community, connection and spirituality I can sometimes feel while dancing. But this book is so much more than a simple description of dances and the activities one may see or participate in at powwows.
It would be hard to explain a powwow without first describing how White colonizers did their best to destroy Indigenous and First Nations peoples. I knew a bit about what Americans did, but I somehow expected better from our northern neighbors. I heard a Black comedian comment about how “Canadians seem so nice and polite, but they are just as racist as all the others,” and when it comes to forcing Indigenous into concentration camps, banning their religious and cultural practices, their language, taking their kids away—and that’s just stuff in the last century!—Canadians are no less bigoted/genocidal than their southern neighbors.
I can’t undo what my White ancestors have done, but I can try to do what I can to support Indigenous peoples’ reclamation of their culture, celebrate their achievements and talents, explore what is willingly shared with me, learn as much as I can about their experiences, and try to be a good ally so history doesn’t repeat its dark chapters.
As a dancer since I was 3, I feel a kinship with the author for the sense of community, connection and spirituality I can sometimes feel while dancing. But this book is so much more than a simple description of dances and the activities one may see or participate in at powwows.
It would be hard to explain a powwow without first describing how White colonizers did their best to destroy Indigenous and First Nations peoples. I knew a bit about what Americans did, but I somehow expected better from our northern neighbors. I heard a Black comedian comment about how “Canadians seem so nice and polite, but they are just as racist as all the others,” and when it comes to forcing Indigenous into concentration camps, banning their religious and cultural practices, their language, taking their kids away—and that’s just stuff in the last century!—Canadians are no less bigoted/genocidal than their southern neighbors.
I can’t undo what my White ancestors have done, but I can try to do what I can to support Indigenous peoples’ reclamation of their culture, celebrate their achievements and talents, explore what is willingly shared with me, learn as much as I can about their experiences, and try to be a good ally so history doesn’t repeat its dark chapters.
August 12, 2020
This book is an excellent example of everything a good nonfiction book should be, and then some. Pheasant-Neganigwane takes us through a history of powwows, while also providing background material on the history of native/indigenous peoples in North America. While informational in nature, the book is also very personal, as Pheasant-Neganigwane tells us about her parents and grandparents, life on the reserve, and how she became involved in dancing.
The book is filled with many features that a good nonfiction text will include. The book is divided into four chapters, and each chapter has several headings in it. Photos are on every page, many of the author's family members, are on almost every page. Most of the photos are in full color, showing off the intricate outfits powwow dancers wear. At the end of the book is a glossary and resources, the latter including both print and electronic resources. One resource it is lacking is maps; a tribal map would be helpful for readers looking for a geographic reference.
A solid informational text that would be good for both personal reading and research assignments. Recommend for grades 6 and up.
The book is filled with many features that a good nonfiction text will include. The book is divided into four chapters, and each chapter has several headings in it. Photos are on every page, many of the author's family members, are on almost every page. Most of the photos are in full color, showing off the intricate outfits powwow dancers wear. At the end of the book is a glossary and resources, the latter including both print and electronic resources. One resource it is lacking is maps; a tribal map would be helpful for readers looking for a geographic reference.
A solid informational text that would be good for both personal reading and research assignments. Recommend for grades 6 and up.
July 26, 2020
This beauty of a quick-read book healed my longtime aching heart over a great, sad, and unspoken mysterious (no more) history, and made me understand my own terribly fractured indigenous Chiricahua Apache nation’s family’s loss and so much more. Hopefully, will now reach out to powwows bravely to make new connections that wasn’t taught in my clan’s generations, as well as my own family, with no more shame. Will curiously try to research/self-teach the practices/languages/cultures and more—A blessed Thank-you to the author. You have inspired me greatly. Will seek where to start,...? This will be hard, as most journeys like this are,...for there are no teachers in my own family and they are all lost. Hope to seek some, as well as others seek theirs too, be it of any Nation. Bless their journeys also.
November 8, 2024
Powwow: A Celebration through Song and Dance by Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane is not only a vibrant celebration of the powwow tradition, it is an informative resource. Pheasant-Neganigwane provides invaluable insight into indigenous North American tradition, culture, and history. She clearly explains origins, meanings, and etiquette surrounding powwows for those who want to learn about them and/or want to attend them.
Alongside Pheasant-Neganigwane's clear and poignant prose, are gorgeous and colorful photographs. These photographs illustrate the beauty of the powwow dances and dancers. Historical images also help illuminate the history that fed into the current powwow traditions.
A clear introduction to powwows, Powwow: A Celebration through Song and Dance by Pheasant-Neganigwane is a vital read.
Alongside Pheasant-Neganigwane's clear and poignant prose, are gorgeous and colorful photographs. These photographs illustrate the beauty of the powwow dances and dancers. Historical images also help illuminate the history that fed into the current powwow traditions.
A clear introduction to powwows, Powwow: A Celebration through Song and Dance by Pheasant-Neganigwane is a vital read.
January 15, 2021
An interesting and informative book about pow-wows. This book talks about how Indigenous people were not allowed to celebrate their culture for generations, and the breakdown of families through the placement of children in Residential schools and foster homes. The author emphasizes the power and importance of pow-wows in re-establishing culture and connections, especially within First Nation peoples. She describes the drums used in pow-wows, the various types of dances for men and women, and the regalia worn for the dances.
December 7, 2022
This book is really informative and has lots of gorgeous photos. Between reading this and Ancestor Approved, I feel like I know a lot more about Powwow culture than I did before. This book talks about the history of oppression that lead to the development of Powwows, the different types of Powwows, traditional Powwow foods, different types of dances from their different regions, and most importantly, talks about the healing and renewed cultural connection that today's Native American people are finding through Powwow. Highly recommend this book for all children's libraries.
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May 2, 2020This gorgeously illustrated book doesn't shy away from the painful history of indigenous peoples of North America. But its focus is the positive role of the Powwow in contemporary indigenous culture, how dance and the gathering are allowing native peoples to reclaim their cultural heritage as well as to connect with other indigenous nations across the continent building solidarity and community. A beautiful book that reinforces the idea that native cultures are alive and vibrant!
November 17, 2020
Well, now I want to go to a powwow. This is an incredibly colourful, full of the author's own experience as a powwow attendee and participant. The book handles the history of powwows beautifully, but my favourite aspect of the book was all the vivid pictures of present day dancers, singers, and drummers. So often we like to regulate the stories of our First Nations and Indigenous tribes to history, but this book shows how present and alive they are.
March 18, 2022
This book should be in every community and school library in North America. While the author focuses on Canadian First Nation Pow Wows, her scope extends into Native American Pow Wow culture and dances. The beautiful captioned photographs make the book worth picking up, even without the extremely informative text.
The back matter includes a glossary, an index, a resources section, and a note from the author.
The back matter includes a glossary, an index, a resources section, and a note from the author.
Read
August 1, 2020Wow, this is a comprehensive and colorful nonfiction book about powwows, Native American celebrations of song and dance. It goes into the history of powwows and how they developed into what we see today (yes, today! There are powwows held in every state and province!). This is a wonderful introduction to this event and this is a wonderful book to add to your library collection.
July 21, 2021
What a great way to learn about pow wows around Canada and a bit in the US as well. They are introduced and described among some history of Indigenous peoples in Canada which explains the importance of these gatherings and dances today. A great book with a ton of bright photos. We learn about the various dances and their meanings along with the author which is great. I learned a lot!
December 18, 2019
Through facts and photos this book contains all you need to know about powwows. Its origins, songs, dances, along with stories and fun facts fill the pages of this wonderful look at Indigenous culture.
November 25, 2020
A lifelong Anishinaabe competitive powwow dancer and educator summarizes the basics of powwow culture through a series of sections highlighting its origins, current elements, songs and dances, and regional differences across Canada and the United States.
March 30, 2022
I learned so much from this non-fiction book. The photography thing s beautiful. I loved the stories and knowledge of the author and the etiquette for going to my first pow-wow was perfect. I’ll also be excited to try the other books from this series.
August 15, 2020
Loved all the photos, the history, and the contemporary
October 12, 2020
Absolutely eye opening!
December 6, 2020
Breaks down Powwow culture in a personal and educational way.
May 1, 2021
So interesting, a beautifully illustrated youth book perfect for an adult who knew nothing about this subject.
May 17, 2021
Very good resource for middle school libraries. Tons of Canadian content and written by an Indigenous Powwow dancer so lots of first hand stories.
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August 6, 2021394 P537 2020
August 24, 2021
Beautiful book. Engaging, informative, and had great pictures. Covers both US and Canada.
November 27, 2021
Beautiful pictures throughout and information about powwows and indiginous dances. A good beginner's book.
November 30, 2022
Kids book, but actually good for anyone. Author's history, including her life dancing in powwows. Plus powwow etiquette.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews