Download the teacher guide (a PDF file*).
*You must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print a PDF file.
Introduction
Program Summary
Background Information
Correlations with Wisconsin Model Academic Standards -- Social Studies
Geography
History
Political Science and Citizenship
Economics (no correlations)
The Behavioral Sciences
Classroom Connections
Instructional Goals
Vocabulary
Pre-viewing Activities
Post-viewing Activities
General Resources
Media
Maps
Literature
World Wide Web Links
Wisconsin Links
Brief Histories
General Sites
 |
New Dawn of Tradition: A Wisconsin Powwow showcases one aspect of Native American culture that embraces many Indian nations, tribes, and bands. Viewers are introduced to the powwow
as a cultural celebration and see samples of different dance styles.
This 15-minute instructional program is targeted at fourth- and fifth-grade students. Teachers
can use the program to help teach Native American studies as mandated. New Dawn of Tradition also supports a number of academic standards.
Background Information
The New Dawn of Tradition Powwow was held on the American Family Insurance grounds in Madison in August 1998. Its participants represented 11 tribes and bands of American Indians currently living in Wisconsin, plus the Sac and Fox (Meskwaki) tribe and the Mystery Lake (Mdewakanton) Dakota (also known as the Santee Sioux) tribe, which formerly resided in the
land that became Wisconsin. The powwow was held to commemorate their history and celebrate their culture.
Back To Top|Introduction|Standards Correlations|Classroom Connections
General Resources|WWW Links|Powwow Home
 |
Economics: Production, Distribution, Exchange, Consumption
(no correlations)
Back To Top|Introduction|Standards Correlations|Classroom Connections
General Resources|WWW Links|Powwow Home
 |
Instructional Goals
Students will understand that powwows are social celebrations that are common to many tribal nations, while recognizing that tribes are culturally distinct groups.
Students will learn how elements of Native American culture as expressed within a powwow have changed over time, and how they have stayed the same.
culture |
the behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought, especially as expressed in a particular community or period |
cultural blending |
the integration of customs between cultural groups |
cultural heritage |
the connection people have to the generations of people who lived before them, pertaining to culture |
ethnic |
a group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage |
fancy feather dance |
a dance style for boys and men characterized by fast, energetic steps; the dancers' regalia is bright and colorful |
fancy shawl dance |
a dance style for girls and women characterized by fast, energetic steps; dancers wear a shawl |
grand entry |
a procession signalling the beginning of a powwow, when military veterans carrying flags are followed by all other dancers around the arena |
grass dance |
the oldest dance style for boys and men; modern dancers sew layers of long fringe on their regalia, imitating the old style when long grass was used |
head roach |
a type of headdress worn by some male dancers, often made of horsehair |
powwow |
a social gathering and celebration of Indian culture, common to many groups, which involves singing, dancing, and drumming |
jingle dance |
a dance style for girls and women, who sew hundreds of tin cones on their regalia; it commemorates an Ojibwe (Chippewa) girl who achieved good health by dancing in a dress covered with shells, as foretold in her father's dream (Note: Several slightly different versions of this story exist.) |
regalia special |
special clothing worn by dancers at a powwow |
traditional dance, boys and men |
a dance style in which men wear regalia that incorporate natural materials; they dance in a manner which honors the relationship between people and animals, and some also portray a hunt or battle within their dance |
traditional dance, girls and women |
a dance style in which women move with slow, graceful movements; their regalia often includes a shawl and a fan made from feathers |
vocables |
syllables that carry the melody in some songs |
- Discuss cultural heritage with the class. Ask students to brainstorm familiar traditions or celebrations that reflect some aspect of cultural or ethnic heritage. (Encourage students to discuss their own cultural heritage. However, be sensitive to the needs of foster or adopted children, children who do not know their cultural heritage, or those whose background includes many different cultures.) Answers might include special foods, holiday observances, or festivals. You may wish to create a word map on the board.
- Explain to students that they are about to view a video program about one form of cultural celebration, a Native American powwow. Ask if anyone has ever participated in, or attended, a powwow. Ask students what they think a powwow is. Note their responses for post-viewing discussion.
- Ask students to define or explain a powwow. Compare their answers to their previous responses. Were some of the original ideas based on stereotypical images of American Indians? What other stereotypical ideas about Indian people might students harbor?
During the 1800s, many non-Indians used the word powwow to describe any gathering of Indian people. Today, some people still use the term to describe any gathering or meeting. Review with students how that idea has transformed to mean a modern cultural celebration and social gathering. Once students understand what a real powwow is and they are aware of its importance to the participants, do they see this description as accurate or stereotypical?
- The participants at the New Dawn of Tradition Powwow represented 13 tribes of American Indian people now or once living in Wisconsin:
- Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Forest County Potawatomie Tribe
- Ho-Chunk Nation
- Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin
- Oneida Nation
- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Sokaogon Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- St. Croix Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans
- Sac and Fox (Meskwaki) Tribe (former residents)
- Mystery Lake (Mdewakanton) Dakota (also known as Santee Sioux) Tribe (former residents)
- Discuss cultural blending with students. They saw several examples in the video, such as dancers from many tribes and nations adopting the Omaha style of grass dancing and the Ojibwe (Chippewa) style of jingle dress dancing. What examples of cultural blending can the students find in their own lives? What foods, types of clothing, music, or holiday celebrations do they share with people from other cultures?
- Help students distinguish between historical tradition and modern innovation by asking them to identify ways historical and modern powwows are the same, and different. You may wish
to create a chart on the board or an overhead.
- Powwow dancers create regalia that has personal meaning and/or is visually appealing to them. Provide art materials and ask students to design a special outfit they might wear at a family celebration or other important occasion. Afterward, share the drawings with the class. What choices did they make in materials and design, and why?
- Invite a Native American person who dances in powwows to visit your class. Ask if he or she would be willing to describe his or her regalia, demonstrate some dance steps, and discuss
the traditions that powwows are honoring and perpetuating. - Most young powwow dancers learn the various dance steps by observing older dancers. Children's regalia is usually created by parents, grandparents, or other family members or friends. Ask students to think what skills or traditions they have learned, formally or informally, from family members and/or other adults. Do they think it is important to honor and respect their elders, who have accumulated a lifetime's wisdom and experience? Do they think it is important to pass down and preserve family, ethnic, or cultural traditions?
- Remind students that each American Indian nation is a distinct group of people, with its own language, customs, and beliefs. Review the nations, tribes, and bands with students
by sharing this interactive map.
You can expand this activity by asking groups of students to conduct research about the history and cultural heritage of one of the bands, tribes, or nations. Ask them to write a report or make a classroom presentation that highlights the distinct cultural characteristics of the particular group they studied.
Some ideas are provided in the following chart:
| Ways Powwows Have Stayed the Same |
Ways Powwows Have Changed over Time |
|---|---|
| Dancers use natural materials -- such as bones, feathers, and shells -- in their regalia. | Many dancers also use modern materials in their regalia, such as yarn and ribbon, silk, and glitter. |
| Girls participate as dancers. | In addition to dancing in the traditional style, girls can participate as fancy shawl dancers and jingle dress dancers. |
| Singers provide music for the dancers. | Today, some songs are in Native American languages, some are in English, and some use vocables. |
| The musicians can be heard throughout the arena. | The musicians may use microphones and other electronic equipment to make sure everyone can hear. |
| Warriors are highly respected participants. | Warrior/veterans have fought in the U.S. or Canadian military, and remain highly respected participants. |
| Good food is part of the celebration. | Food includes both traditional dishes (e.g., wild rice) and modern food (e.g., soda pop and hamburgers). |
| Family and friends gather. | Sometimes participants travel hundreds of miles by car or plane to attend powwows. |
Back To Top|Introduction|Standards Correlations|Classroom Connections
General Resources|WWW Links|Powwow Home
 |
Media
The Menominee Nation Powwow video unlocks the mystique of one tribe's annual powwow and is available from the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin. Many non-Indians often misunderstand Native American powwows and can feel alienated by these awesome events. Through this video program, the Menominee welcome people of all colors to participate in the celebration.
Cost: $20, plus $3.95 for shipping and handling.
Send orders to Menominee Tribal Public Relations Department, Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 910, Keshena, WI 54135.
Native Wisconsin was produced by the Great Lakes Intertribal Council to provide a video tour of Wisconsin to explore the 11 native Wisconsin nations. Viewers travel through the state to see the culture and history still thriving within each nation.
For ordering information, contact the Great Lakes Intertribal Council at 2932 Hwy. 47 North, P.O. Box 9, Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538; or call 800/236-4000.
*Request the educators’ copy.
In 1966, folklorist Dr. Thomas Vennum, Jr. worked with the Smithsonian Folkways program to document and preserve some aspects of a Wisconsin powwow. The result is a two-video set:
Wisconsin Powwow (42 minutes) is a general treatment of the powwow itself as it has come to be held by the Ojibwa people in northern Wisconsin.
Naamikaaged: Dancer for the People (25 minutes) follows a young Ojibwe (Chippewa), Richard LaFernier, as he sets up his tent, honors his ancestors, dresses and paints himself for a powwow, dances, and sings at powwows in northern Wisconsin. His shelter, his prayers, many items of his dress, and his face paint demonstrate how he is rooted in a long historical tradition and part of a large family network, but is also part of the 1990s.
Accompanying these video tapes is a 40-page booklet, which includes a map, diagram of the powwow site, a transcription of the second video’s soundtrack, discussion question, and related reading and listening resources. To order, contact the Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies, 955 L’Enfant Plaza, Suite 2600, MRC 914, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560.
Maps
Wisconsin’s Past and Present: A Historical Atlas, by the Wisconsin Cartographers’ Guild. University of Wisconsin Press, 1998; ISBN 029915940X. This atlas features detailed maps with supporting text showing migration routes; changes in terrain as various tribes, bands, and nations interacted with each other and white settlers; and treaty lands and cessions. It also includes little-discussed groups such as the Kickapoo, Miami, Mascouten, and Illinois, Algonquian-speakers who settled near southern Lake Michigan.
Literature
Eagle Drum: On the Powwow Trail with a Young Grass Dancer, by Robert Crum. Simon Schuster, 1994; ISBN 0027255158. This story tells of the experiences of 9-year-old Louis Pierre, a member of the Pend Oreille tribe on the Flathead Reservation in Montana, who learned dancing from his grandfather. Eagle Drum provides more cultural context than some other selections.
Powwow, by George Anacona. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1993; ISBN 0152632697. Photos and text are skillfully interwoven to explain the pan-Indian Crow Fair in Montana; featured is young Anthony Standing Rock.
Powwow: Images Along the Red Road, by Ben Marra. Harry N. Abrams, 1996; ISBN 0810926806. This book features beautiful full-page photographs and comments from the dancers about their motivations, emotions, and philosophy of participating in powwows. Primarily for an adult audience, the book could serve as a secondary resource for elementary school students.
Powwow Summer: A Family Celebrates the Circle of Life, by Marcie R. Randon. Carolrhoda, 1996; ISBN 0876149867. This book focuses on the experiences of the Downwinds, an Ojibwe (Chippewa) family in Minnesota, as they attend a number of powwows. The author, who is Ojibwe, includes discussion of the Native American view of seasonal cycles and how modern powwows developed from traditional observances.
Shannon: An Ojibway Dancer, by Sandra King. Lerner, 1993; ISBN 0822526522. A photoessay depicting the experiences of 13-year-old Shannon, an Ojibwe (Chippewa) girl living in Minneapolis as she prepares her regalia, practices, and performs.
Back To Top|Introduction|Standards Correlations|Classroom Connections
General Resources|WWW Links|Powwow Home
 |
Wisconsin Links
Great Lakes Intertribal Council
The Great Lakes Intertribal Council is a consortium of federally recognized Indian tribes in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. This site provides information about the council and its functions, powwows, and links to other sites, including the following:
Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
Sokaogon (Mole Lake) Band of Chippewa Indians
St. Croix Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
Forest County Potawatomi Tribe
The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians
Ho-Chunk Nation
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
Federally Recognized Wisconsin Indian Tribes
This page — which is part of Paula Giese’s large site, Native American Indian Resources — shows locations of the reservations in the state and provides links to information about the reservations, treaties, and background.
Brotherton Indians of Wisconsin
This site provides information about the Brothertown Indians’ history and efforts to achieve federal recognition.
Mohican Nation, Stockbridge-Munsee Band
This site includes the band’s origin and early history, the arrival of Europeans, the band’s removals westward, its reservation, and the Stockbridge-Munsee today.
The Sac and Fox Nation
This page includes a brief history of the Asakiwaki (Sauk) and Meshkwahkihaki/Meskwaki/Mesquakie (Fox) people, which are now united in Oklahoma.
Brief Histories
Menominee
Ho-Chunk (Winnebago)
Mahican (Stockbridge-Munsee)
Ojibwe (Chippewa)
Ottawa
Potawatomie
Sauk and Fox
General Sites
MAPS: GIS (Geographical Information Systems) Windows on Native Lands, Current Places, and History
This site offers many useful maps (note copyright restrictions) and links.
Follow the US Map Window Index link to a Wisconsin map showing reservations of federally recognized tribes. (This page also is referenced under “Wisconsin Links,” above.)
These maps are part of the Native American Indian Resources site.
Back To Top|Introduction|Standards Correlations|Classroom Connections
General Resources|WWW Links|Powwow Home
This site is best viewed on Internet Explorer 7 or above
