Dance reflects tradition and history

Powwow dances and the songs that accompany them reflect a long history that we have been celebrating since time began. Each dance portrays an activity that was significant in the life of early First Nations communities. While some are restricted to ceremonial and sacred occasions, many can be shared publicly. Some originate with the prairie tribes, while others are credited to other North American nations.

The women's jingle dance is a healing dance, said Richard Missens of Saskatchewan's First Nations University of Canada. "[It] came to a man, whose grand-daughter was ill, and the dress was described in a vision." It is said that the jingle dress represents all women's wounds, and each time the people hear the sound of the jingles, they feel good. Steps of the traditional dance are slow, with controlled footwork and raised arms to receive the healing. The women's fancy shawl dance is not a traditional women's style.

"It came from the southern United States and is a newer dance,"he said. "It represents the butterfly and the shawl has intricate appliques and sequins to represent its color and beauty," he said. The dancers are hopping and flying, and the arms move like graceful wings, with splashes of color and whirling fringes, and each step is quick and light so that the young woman looks as though she is literally dancing on air.

The women's buckskin or traditional dance consists of bending knees in time to the beat, giving slight up and down movements to the body while subtly shifting the feet to turn. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful of the women's dances and all ages participate, standing tall and proud, gliding and swaying like the breeze through the forest. The movements show respect, caring, pride and honor that women carry for their heritage and for their family.

The men's traditional dance belongs to the warrior society, said Missens. "They tell stories in their dances about the adventures they've had and the fights they've fought. It mimics warrior movements, such as stalking game or enemies, to the beat of the drum." They may also imitate movements of the horse, birds or buffalo while performing.

The men's fancy dance originated in southern Oklahoma when certain nations gathered to pick their best dancers.

"It's favored by the crowd at powwows because it's fast-moving and a wonderful display of athletic skill and ability. They jump and leap and sometimes dance three or four in a row, so they have to be in good shape physically," said Missens. A dancer attempts to keep in perfect rhythm with the fastest beat of the drum. Unique items of the regalia include a roach, which is designed to keep the feathers either spinning or rocking in movement constantly throughout the dance.

"The fancy dance has trick songs, and the dancers don't know when the drum is going to stop. The dancer has to stop then too. The drummers challenge the dancers, trying to fool them, but the better dancers develop a sense of when the drumming is going to stop and learn to anticipate it," he explained.

The grass dance was adopted on the prairies centuries ago and is reminiscent of the scouts who went out ahead of the main group to look for buffalo, enemies, or camping spots.

"The dance moves are slow and graceful, like the grasses that blow on the prairie. Even the fringe work mimics the wind and the grass so the men would blend in with the environment," he said. It may have also originated in a need to find a balance in life, as a movement on one side must be repeated on the dancer's other side.

Dancers need to be aware of the responsibilities they've undertaken. They are expected to be good role models and to perform the best that they can, remembering that they are carrying on a time-honored tradition. Putting on regalia and dancing means they are promising to honor their culture, their traditions, and their Creator, and they must be humble and thankful for the opportunity to dance.

"Our songs and dances need to be shared, and not just with our own people," concluded Missens, who travelled the powwow circuit as a boy growing up in a traditional family. "We also need to share our culture with other nations and make them feel welcome. We need to ask visitors to dance with us and learn about us. Together we can enjoy the healing of the powwow."