Goals:  Familiarize students with American Indian traditions in Central Iowa by exploring the drum, song, dance, and regalia associated with powwows.

Objectives:  Students will be able to

1. Understand the relevance of traditions and ceremonies in American Indian cultures.
2. Identify the functions of powwows.
3. Explain the importance of the drum in First Nations’ song and dance.
4. Describe a powwow dance.
5. Compare different regalia seen at powwows.

Questions to be answered:

1. What are some traditions and ceremonies in American Indian culture?
2. What are powwows, and why are they held?
3. Why do American Indians have powwows?
4. What happens at the annual August Meskwaki powwow?
5. Why is the drum an important instrument among First Nations Peoples?
6. What are regalia and what are the different types you might see at a powwow?
7. What is the difference between costume and regalia?

Suggested Methods and Activities:

1. Describe what happens at the Meskwaki Powwow. Listen to the audio for this unit.
   Visit the following websites:
   
   • Meskwaki Nation  
   • Meskwaki Indian Traditions
   • Traditional Meskwaki Dances at the 2009 Powwow
   • 2009 Meskwaki Powwow Opening Ceremonies
   • Scenes from the 94th annual Meskwaki Pow Wow
   • University of Iowa Museum of Natural History

*This activity may be adapted for all grades.

Consider different views about American Indian history and culture.

• Listen and discuss Everett Kapayou's comments.
  
• Listen to and discuss Suzanne Wanatee's comments.
• Listen to and discuss Jerry Young Bear, Jr.'s views on culture.
• Ask students to identify a family tradition of their own and share it with the class

*This activity is most appropriate for grades 4-6 but can be used with older grades by
expanding the family tradition activity to include a written paper discussing their family
traditions and significance of those traditions).

• Foodways as Family Heritage
• Family Stories
• Documenting Local Traditions: Interviewing
• Phographic & Video Documentation
• Family Music Making

3. Ask students if they have been to powwows in Iowa or elsewhere. Have students describe what they know about powwows and then read George Ancona’s Powwow (beautiful photographs showcase the largest powwow).  Ask students to write a poem or short description of their thoughts on the book.  Other resources to use for this activity can be found in the resources section of this unit.

*This activity is most appropriate for grades 4-6 but can be used with older grades by substituting a different book found at the website mentioned.

4. Divide students into groups and have them research different types of drums and how they compare to American Indian drums.  Create a chart on the materials used, size, sound made and techniques for playing.  Ask students to explore why different cultures use different materials.  While completing activities, listen to The voice of the Lakota Nation, or visit the First Nations Peoples unit and listen to the audio clips . Click here to to listen to the Round Dance or Love Song (hotlinks on the right of the page).

*This activity is most appropriate for grades 6-9, but can be used with older grades by
expanding the activity to creating a multimedia presentation to present to the class.

5. What kinds of foods are served at powwows? Consider why these foods might have developed. Ask students what kinds of foods they eat at the Iowa State Fair or their county fair. What kinds of foods are available at other cultures’ festivals? What characteristics do they share? Resources: look over the food section of this unit and those for the Lao, Asian Indian, Bosnian, Danish, and Tet units).

*This activity may be adapted for all grades.

6. Ask students to write a review of a webquest on powwows. A review is a critical summary of a book, film, website, performance, or other type of presentation.
   • Living as A Native American

*This activity is for 7th grade but educators may modify it for younger and older grades.

7. Regalia may change and evolve with the seasons, personal tastes and age.  Regalia express the life of each individual dancer as well as the traditions of the tribe. Have  students dress in a fashion that expresses who they are and what is important in their lives. Students may adorn their outfits with trinkets, colors, memorabilia, etc. and then have classmates try to determine what the outfits represent.  Compare them to outfits worn at a powwow.

*This activity is most appropriate for grades 9-12.

8. Visit the following websites to supplement the lessons above: 
   
   • Meskwaki Indian Traditions
   • Sac and Fox Culture, History, and Links
   • Native American Books and Literature
   • Peacemaker Heroes — Chief Arvol Looking Horse
   • Iowa Roots: Everett Kapayou
   • Community: Chief Wilma Mankiller