The highlight of the powwow is the Grand Entry (opening ceremony). The dancers gather near
the dance arbor entry awaiting for the signal to begin the procession into the arbor. The dancers are
divided into the dance categories of Traditional, Fancy, Grass and Jingle Dress. They enter the arbor,
men first, women and then the children . Grand Entrys occur usually around noon and early evenings after
the dinner break. (Ancona 1993:17). All spectators stand during the Grand Entry while the host drum plays
the flag song, the Indian version of the national anthem (Braine 1995:19).
When the drum selected to sing for the Grand Entry begins, the honor guards carry in the eagle staffs
(spiritual staff, covered in fur and hung with eagle feathers) and flags (U.S., Canada, Mexico, various
Indian Nations). The honor guards are military
veterans (often dancers also). Following the veterans are any tribal officials, politicians, powwow queens or princesses and other honored guests. Next come the different categories of dancers (Braine 1995:19). All movement in the Arbor is in a clockwis
e direction (Ancona 1993:18-20).
After the procession around the arbor, the eagle staffs and flags are mounted while everyone stands at
attention. A special prayer and blessing is given by a selected elder and then the powwow begins (Braine
1995:20). The drum sings an intertribal song and everyone is welcome to participate in the intertribal
dance following the Grand Entry (Ancona 1993:20).
After Grand Entry and the intertribal, the first to dance are the Traditional men. These Traditional
dancers wear a single bustle (usually eagle feathers, sometimes hawk or turkey) tied to the lower back of
their outfits. Some wear bonnets made of feathers, but many wear a warrior's hairpiece, which is called a
roach. The roach is made from deer tail, porcupine or horsehair and has one or two eagle feathers in the
center. They also carry weapons, feather fans, staffs, shields or other items that have
special meaning to them. Because Native Americans lived so close to nature in the past, the Traditional
dancer's regalia reflects this relationship and dependence on nature by use of feathers, porcupine
quills, shells, horsehair, skins (deer, ermine, otter, wolf) as well as horn, teeth and bone. They honor
the spirits of the animals that provide much of their dance clothing and treat their regalia with great
care and respect. Adding to the dramatic effect of the Traditional outfit, many men paint their faces
with designs that express their own personal vision that may have come from a dream or important
experience (Ancona 1993:22).
Many Traditional dancers wear cloth or deerskin leggings and a breechcloth. Some go barelegged. Large
brass bells are often worn around the ankles and moccasins that add to the stately effect of their dance
steps (Braine 1995:20).
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