Welcome To The Taino Native American Indian Guakete And Pow Wow Information Resource!
Music By Mr. Al BoldEagle And The Arawak Mountain Singers A Southern Jersey Taino Drumming Group
Below is an informational resource to help you understand what a Guakete Gathering of the people or Pow
Wow is and also to help you enjoy them more if you get an opportunity to go to
one. There is also a connecting page with a listing of recent Pow Wows. We will add
information on more Guaketes Gatherings and Pow Wow as we obtain it. Puerto Rico & United States Taino Guaketes Festival And Pow Wow List
Thank you for stopping by, and please enjoy the other The Native
American Indian Gaukete & Pow Wow List page on this site if you have time. We also welcome any help
in building this site to be an information resource for SouthEastern & Caribbean Tribes. Any
information supplied must have the approval of the Tribe to which it pertains and
any other necessary permission regarding copywrite laws.
What is a Guakete Gathering or Pow-Wow?
A Guakete is a Festival or Pow-Wow time is Native people meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting,
renewing old friendships and making new ones. This is a time to renew thoughts of the
old ways and to preserve a rich heritage.
Pow-Wow singers are very important figures in the Native American culture today. Without them
there would be no dance. All participate in the singing. Original songs were in the
native language of the singer. Songs were many and varied; Native American religious songs of joy and
mourning.
As various tribes gathered together, they would share their songs, often changing the
songs so singers of different tribes could join in. With these changes came the use of
"vocables" to replace the words of the old songs. Thus, some songs today are sung in
vocables using no words.
Yet they still hold special meaning to those who know the song. Many songs are still
sung in native tongue either newly composed or revivals of old songs. These songs are
reminders to the Indian people of their old ways and rich heritage.
Dancers have always been a very important part of the life of the Native Americans, no
matter what tribe. Most dances seen at pow-wows today are "social" dances which might
have had different meanings in earlier days but have evolved through the years to the
social dances of today. Although dance styles and content have changed, their meaning
and importance to the Indian has not.
"Too many misinterpretations have been made..... too many misunderstandings"
Chief Joseph
Guakete or Pow-Wow Etiquette
1. The arena benches are reserved for the dancers dressed in dance regalia. The blankets
placed in the arena on benches mark the spot of the dancers. Please don't sit on someone's
blanket unless invited. If you are not dancing you may bring chairs and sit outside of the
arena behind the benches.
2. Listen to the Master of Ceremonies. He will announce who is to dance, the dance step,
and when to dance.
3. Please be considerate of those seated or standing behind you. They may not be able to
see over you. Please make room for everyone to enjoy the dancing.
4. During the Flag Song and Honor Songs you are asked to stand and remove hats to show
respect for the Native American Flags & the flag of the United States and those who are honored.
5. The dance arena is for those participating in the dance. It has been blessed and should
be considered sacred.
6. Photographs should be taken only with the permission of the individual subject. You are
welcome to take group pictures without anyone's permission. Please remember to be courteous.
If you have any questions, please ask.
7, All persons not in regalia are asked that legs be covered before entering the dance arena.
Terms Used at the Pow-Wow
Announcers, Masters of Ceremonies:
All pow-wows have these. They keep the event going, announcing events, explaining exhibition dances,
telling jokes, calling for lost parents, seeking owners of lost items.
Arena Directors:
Usually honored dancers who keep track of drum order and dance contests and help coordinate contest
events.
Casabi and Fry Breads:
Casabi is a Taino Bread made from the Yuka or Yucca root, Fry Bread is made of dough fried in hot fat
and served with honey and butter; powerfully fattening and delicious. The recipe varies.
Grand Entry:
The parade of dancers that leads off each session of the pow-wow. Contestants numbers are recorded and
they receive points for participation.
The Giveaway:
Distribution of goods by a family to friends, relatives, and visitors in honor of a person or event;
for example to memorialize someone's death, for a naming ceremony or an adoption. goods range from
blankets to foodstuffs to horses covered with money. The giveaway is prededed by an honor song.
Indian Taco:
Bread served with chili, cheese, tomatoes, and onions. Good stuff!!!
Eagle Stsff
A staff, spiritual in nature, covered in fur and hung with eagle feathers, which represents Indianess
and/or a tribe, carried with honor by a veteran in the opening ceremonies.
What is Indian Time:
The time all pow-wows run on. Schedules are set, but are flexible, and attempts are made to adhere to
them strictly but due to the informal nature of large gatherings, times are approximate. Things start
when they start and end when they end.
The Guakete Gathering And Pow-Wow Circuit:
Similar to a rodeo circuit, and entire families travel them from Memorial Day to Labor Day. People
traveling the circuit consists of dancers, singers, gamblers, rodeo riders, announcers, and consessionaires.
The circuit can be addictive, and is a wonderful opportunity to meet people and learn.
The Singer/Drum Group:
The music of the pow-wow circuit, each usually includes five to ten members (and sometimes entire families),
with a lead singer and others who can "second" (repeat the lead line with melody on a different or similar
key). Dancers key their movements to the melody of the song, their footwork keeping time to the drumbeat.
Singers have a variety of song styles they offer in order to allow dancers to show off their style. Songs
include trick songs, fast and slow grass dance songs, shake songs, crow hops, and sneak ups. Song structure
consists of chorus and verse, some using real words and others using vocables. Certain groups are known for
their quality, and the dancers will honor these drum groups by shistling for them to repeat a song. Songs
are passed on by oral tradition.
The Tekina or Pow Wow Head People
To be selected as one of the "Head People" is a high honor. The Head People are selected not only for ability
but also for personal qualities, actions and how they treat other people.
Head Man and Head Lady Dancers
This is also a high honor. These two dancers guide and direct the dancers throughout the pow-wow. They are the
first to begin dancing in each song. Other dancers wait in respect until the head man and head lady begin dancing.
Head Singer
This is another high honor. The head singer must know all the songs to be sung. The head singer is selected to lead
the singing. The head singer either starts the drumming / singing or selects another "lead" singer to begin the song.
All other singers/drummers must wait for the signal for them to join in.
The Batey or Dance Arena
The batey Circle or dance arena may be inside or outside, but must be large enough to accommodate all participants and observers.
It is blessed before the Pow-wow begins and is considered sacred ground for the duration of the celebration. Frequently,
there are bleachers for spectators to sit on or people may bring lawn chairs. The front seats of the Arbor are for the
dancers, singers, and their families. Elders are also given preferred places to sit. Running and playing within the dance
arena is not allowed, nor is it proper for spectators to cross the Arbor during the Pow-wow. However, if you enter the c
ircle, you always walk in a clockwise direction.
The Southern Mayohucan Wooden And Northern Buffalo Skin Drums
The drum is much more than a mucical instrument to the Natives Americans. It is sacred, the center for all Sacred Tribal
Ceremonies and Social gatherings. The wooden Mayohuacan drum that came from the Southern Native American Nations of the Arawak,
Mayan and Mejica is a very Sacred Drum to the Taino Native American people. It is a very special
tie to the traditional Native American way of life. It should be cared for in a certain prescribed manner. All singers must
know the strict and exacting protocol to be observed while seated at the drum. You may note that singers observe strict drum
etiquette. The drum sets the rhythm of the dance and the tempo of the song. There are two types of drums used at most Pow-wows.
One is a triditional drum, made by stretching hides over a frame and lacing the hides together with rawhide thongs.
The other kind is more common, a regular band bass drum. Both drums are accorded the highest respect by all tribes as a
most important part of any Pow-Wow.
Areito's or Songs and Dances
The Guazabara or War Dance
There are many types of war dances. In early times, the ceremonial dance called "Arritocu" was restricted to warriors,
and only the best dancers were chosen to participate. Today, the war dance is a victory dance among the Plains Indians.
It is purely social and is enjoyed by all who chose to participate. It is a dignified dance, rather than a violent dance
as is commonly supposed.
The Round Dance
This is a social dance. Dancers move in rows of circles clockwise around the drum in a side-step, with the faster moving
line in the middle close to the drum and the slower toward the outside, away from the drum. The entire line moves as one
body, each in harmony to the rhythm of the drum.
The Hutia or Rabbit Dance / Two Step
These are two of the few dances where men and women dance as partners. The "Rabbit Dance" comes from the northern tribes
such as the Sioux. The "Two Step" is an addition to the "Rabbit Dance". Women choose their partners. Couples, holding hands,
circle the drum, stepping off with the left foot and dragging the right up with it in time to loud-soft drum beats. In early
days, if a man refused to dance, he had to "pay" (money or craft gift) to the asker.
The Boba or Snake Dance
A social dance - the "Snake Dance" is just what the name implies. Dancers follow each other in a singel line, moving in and
out in a snake like manner. The line of dancers describes the journey of a large snake through the forest and up the
mountains, coiling up for a rest - uncoiling and traveling on. The "snake" comes to a river - section after section he
crosses, down to the last, smallest tail dancer.
The Tribal Flag Song
In recent years, nearly every tribe has composed a flag song, dedicated to the men and women who have served in the armed
forces in various wars. The flag songs are the Indian equivalent of the National Anthem; all stand as the song is sung.
There is no dancing to this song, but all stand in respect. (Certain women whose father, brother or son is a combat
veteran may traditionally dance in peace.) The Flag Song is sung at the beginning of most Indian activities.
The Honor Song
Honor songs are special songs sung to honor a particular person or persons. It is customary to stand in silence to show
respect when an honor song is sung. Honor songs are always announced before they are sung at pow-wows.
The Inter-Tribals
Includes all dance styles in any "Everyone Dance" situation, all ages and genders. The announcer will usually say,
"Let's everyone dance, all you dancers get out there!"
Some Native American Quotes
"The Great Spirit Chief who rules above all will smile upon this land.... and this time the Indian race is waiting and praying." Chief Joseph
"We do not want riches, we want peace and love." Red Cloud
"There was a time when I had a choice........" Red Eagle
"The Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard." Standing Bear
"I was living peacable and satisfied when people bagan to speak bad of me." Geronimo
An Honorable Man has enough Wisdom and Knowledge about him to find the beauty of the truth before passing judgement." Igmo Tanka Sutahnaji
"Let us put our minds together and see what life we will make for our children." Sitting Bull
There is one God looking down on all of us. We are all children of one God. God is listening to me. The sun, the darkness, the winds, are all listening to what we now say."Geronimo
The Mountain Lady
Mountain Woman A Painting by Leonard Peltier
Our Way to Worship
by: Igmo Tanka, Gene Martin, Chief of Chicora
Chicora Indian Tribe of South Carolina
When you came to our country
We gave you a hand
And so in return
You took our land
You said that we were savage
And that we had no God
Our way of worship was forbidden
Because you found it very odd
As the sun would rise
We would face the east
To pray for all creations
From the birds to the beasts
To thank our Creator
For another sacred day
Because all days are sacred
If you worship the Native way
You are invited to visit our NJ United Sstates Regional Tribal Home Page
The New Jersey Taino Tribal Council of Jatibonicu' if you have time, thank you again for stopping by.
I wish to personally thank Chief Igmo Tanka, OTahnCahn, of the Chicora Indian Tribe,
and his Tribal office for providing the information you have found on this page in reference
to Pow-Wows. - Gail Lang, Pedro Guanikeyu Torres.
Return to "Jatibonicu' Caney Lomghouse Home Page"
This site is created and maintained as a Taino community service with the help of
Juan Antonio Perez, the Taino WebMaster, for the Taino Native American Indian People of the Taino Tribe of Jatibonicu' of the Island of Boriken (Puerto Rico). Please come back
and visit again. Last updated September 18, 2000
A HUMBLE PlACE OF HONOR
Chief Matthew Creel of the Edisto Tribal Council
The Text in this page was orginally a Pow Wow Source Page created by Ms. Gail Lang of the Pride
Group. an Internet Web Publisher & Provider. It was adopted and re-edited with additions from other text sources
of the Northern & Southern Taino Native American people. These additions include Taino Pow Wow Music some Native American
Images, URLS and other sources that would better serve the needs of the Taino Native American community of New
Jersey and the rest of the United States. Credit is here by given for the orginal text to Ms. Gail Lang for her
creation of this Native American Web Source of Pow Wow text information. Thus further as, the Tribal Council of Elders of
the Taino Jatibonicu' Tribe of Boriken (Puerto Rico), I give humble thanks to Chief Matthew Creel of the Edisto
Indian Tribal Council of South Carolina for his Tribal Council's permission to present his Image and Text information.
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