The Convergent Evolution of Pow Wows and Rodeos

by James Hermes

Every Native-run Pow Wow across the country starts with a grand entry, with our Nation's Flag in front while a Grand Entry song is sung from the head drum. All the Royalty, honored elders, head staff and other dancers follow in a long procession behind the flag. Then, after the colors are posted a flag song is sung while the dancers dance in place. All during this procession the audience is asked to stand in respect for our Nation's flag and those honored veterans who carry it into the circle.

It's almost common knowledge these days that the Pow Wow as we know it today has evolved from the social gatherings and ceremonies of the old days. But, where and when exactly did the Grand Entry, with the presentation of our Nations Colors come into the picture? The answer may surprise you. It came into practice at the same time and place that Rodeos took on their major framework, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

Back in the 1880's, many tribes were being confined to reservations. Some of the warriors signed with a brand-new traveling exhibition demonstrating cowboy skills and Native American ways of life that had been common up to that time. Many warriors saw this as a way to free themselves from the confines of the reservation and to live some semblance of their earlier lives, not to mention to make a little extra money. Sitting Bull was part of Buffalo Bills Wild West Show for a time.

The shows always started with a Grand Entry of all the performers riding into the arena. Cowboys, vaqueros, sharp-shooters, and Native Americans alike all rode in a serpentine formation on horseback to the applause of the crowd. After that, the audience would remain standing for the presentation of the United States Flag.

During World War 1, many Natives received their first chance to serve the U.S. by enlisting in the military. To many, this was a new experience as a whole, including a newfound understanding and inspiration of the Nation's Flag.

After World War 1, the Wild West Shows began to wane in popularity. Many closed down, but tourists continued to come west looking for a piece of the west that was. Many tribes throughout the great plains were asked to put on some kind of a presentation to give to the tourists. The format that many Natives had become familiar with was that of the Wild West Shows, so many tribes borrowed heavily from their previous experiences with those shows. Thus over the last 80 years the Pow Wow has evolved directly from the Wild West Shows into what we know today.

It all kind of reminds me of a line from the song Cherokee Fiddle, "...All the Indians are dressing up like cowboys, and the cowboys are putting leather and turquoise on..."