June 19th: The Pow Wow

I’ve never been to a Pow Wow before.  Heard about them, but never attended until this afternoon.  This Native American gathering at Soldier Hollow taught me an interesting lesson about life that I seem to keep relearning.

My first take on my first Pow Wow came from ignorance.  I didn’t know what I was watching.  it looked like a gathering of Native Americans in tribal dress sort of marching around in a big circle to a two note melody sung or chanted to drums allergic to a back beat.  Forty minutes and four different tribes musical groups later it all sounded the same to me.   I mentioned this to my wife who said, “Yea, just like your stuff”

Ouch.  Reboot.  Try the humble observer approach.   I tried to channel Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves as I approached one of the Indians watching from the stands.   I asked about the dances, and what the judges were looking for in the various dances.   She was gracious enough to answer my questions and helped me see variations on the themes I’d missed.  Pointed out differences I hadn’t detected and even complimented those who she said were doing an excellent job.  As I watched the dances through her eyes I began to see  the differences.

Although I doubt I’ll ever (never say never, Michael) do a collaboration with Native American tribal dancers,(and their back up chanters) I did focus in more intently on the different songs and discovered some harmonies I’d missed earlier.  I know I didn’t “get it”, but just realizing how profoundly I didn’t get it opened me up a bit and made me more aware of the joy that comes from diversity.

My grandson Bucky had enough diversity to last him a lifetime, or so it would seem, at about 4:15 this afternoon.   As I was pushing his stroller back to the car I heard the hand drum competition begin.  One singer and one hand held drum.   Maybe three and a half notes instead of just two in the melody for this competition, but I swear I heard one of the competitors singing English.   “Ay-ya-Oh-oh-don’t-go-baby oh-no-oh-no-stay-ay-ay-ay”   Or something close to that.

I asked my friends if my ears were working right?   Was that Indian singing Baby Don’t Go, or something like it?     No, they said….sounds alot like You’re Not Alone to us.

Thanks.