Santa Clara Valley Powwows

"Powwow" is one of the earliest documented words of the Native Americans and originally meant conjurer or medicine man. The word "Powwow"-- sometimes spelled "Pow Wow"--also came to designate special gathering places such as rivers, ponds, hills or immense boulders where Native Americans would celebrate important periods in their ceremonial year, establish alliances with other and hold healing rituals.

Today, for the Native Americans, the Powwow has become a celebration of ethnicity and a time to renew ties with relatives and friends. It is both a public event and a homecoming for those who have been away from families and homes. While the Powwow has adopted some modern elements the event continues to have close ties with the Native American traditions. The Powwow begins with a prayer by the hosting tribe's medicine man and lasts two to three days. The event's focal point is the dancing, drumming and chanting which many times represent prayers to the spirit world. The Powwows also include a variety of other activities such as the sale of both Native American art and foods, dance and costume competitions and other entertainment.

Both tourists and other tribes are welcome to join in the celebration.

Powwows within the Santa Clara Valley Area include:

January:
Title IX Powwow--Fremont High School, Sunnyvale--408-983-2156 or
408-522-2238

February:

March:
American Indian Alliance "A Powwow to Heal"--408-261-7100
Indian Education Pow Wow--Homestead High School, Cupertino--408-522-2238

April:

May:
DeAnza College Powwow--De Anza College, Cupertino--408-864-5448
Stanford Powwow--Sanford University, Palo Alto--415-725-6944

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November: San Jose Indian Veterans Day Powwow--408-971-9622

December: American Indian Alliance Calender Kick Off and Powwow--408-261-7100 Santa Clara Valley American Indian Christmas Dinner and Powwow--408-971-9622 or 408-445-3415
Title IX Indian Education Powwow--Fremont High School, Sunnyvale--408-522-746-3841 (carries over into the new year)

Further Reading:

S.L. Wykes, "Dancing to the Same Beat: Indians from the U.S., Canada Gather
for Fellowship Dance", San Jose Mercury News, Sunday, 9 May 1993,
Morning Final Edition, Local Sec., p.1B

Don Brignolo, "Thousands Turn Out For Pagentry and Pleasures of Stanford 
Powwow", San Jose Mercury News, Sunday, 12 May 1991, Peninsula/AM
Edition, Local Sec., p.6B

Erin Kimura

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