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Native Symbols
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FAQ's
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Powwow
A powwow is a gathering of Aboriginal people for a celebration of singing, drumming and dancing. All are welcome. There is a spiritual component to powwows and many traditions are inherent in the dances. Elders teach the dancers, especially the youth, the spiritual teachings that they need to know. To be a true powwow dancer involves more than just dancing in the summer; it is a way of life. Sometimes this is called the Red Road, which means learning to live a good life based on spirituality and traditions. Powwow dancers learn what they need to know to be good people and effective leaders. The teachings are more important than how well they dance or how beautiful their outfits are. If the dancers listen to the teachings, they will dance well and their outfits will be beautiful because dancers are taught to take pride in themselves. Aboriginal people believe that if they are proud of themselves, they can practice their tradition of respecting others.
At a competition, powwow dancers are divided into categories based on age, gender and dance style. There are: traditional dancers, fancy dancers, jingle dress dancers, grass dancers, hoop dancers and many others. Age groups include: the golden age, men's and women's, teen, junior boys and girls and the ever-popular tiny tots. Dancers are judged on their regalia and their dancing ability. There is an Arena Director or Whip to keep the dancers organized and to watch that things are done correctly. There is a Master of Ceremonies to communicate with the audience and there are usually different judges called upon for each competition. Drum groups are also judged. The dancing arena is circular and is called an arbor. The front seats of the arbor are for dancers, drummers and their families. Elders are given a special seating area. Everyone else usually brings his own seat (such as a folding chairs or a blanket) to set around the circle. Most powwows start Friday night with a Grand Entry, when all the dancers are drummed in. They follow flag carriers, who carry flags representing the nations present and an eagle feather staff. When this ceremony takes place, stand and take off your hat. The dance competitions follow. There is generally a Grand Entry every day of the competition.
Carving
The Khenipsen Artisan Centre at the Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre in Duncan is the world's largest carving house. In the Khenipsen Artisan Centre, visitors learn the historic and traditional uses of natural materials found in the local area and used for transportation, housing, clothing, foods and medicines. The tools that are used for weaving, knitting and carving are also displayed. Visitors can watch the carving of a totem, mask or war canoe and can carve for themselves on the Visitor's Carving Pole. Traditionally, the elders look at an infant child and know whether or not the child will become a carver. In this way, the elder decided which child would be taught the craft. Now, anyone interested in carving has the opportunity to learn not only how to carve, but also the significance of carving, and how to preserve the cultural value of carving.
The Aboriginal people realized very early that the cedar was an extremely versatile tree and used it extensively. The trunks became building material for homes and buildings, canoes and totem poles. The bark was fashioned into clothing, baskets and rope that was stronger than any modern synthetic equivalent. Some Aboriginal women even chewed the cedar bark to such a softness they used it for baby diapers.
Totem Poles
A totem is defined as an object, such as an animal or plant, that serves as the emblem or symbol of a kinship group or person. First Nations cultures carve wooden poles to display these totems. Each animal carved on the pole represents a mythical creature associated with family history, notable ancestors or events which displayed the ancestors’ spiritual powers or magical privileges of the families. Each different totem belongs to the particular family or person carving it; in other words, the carver cannot use totems belonging to families outside his own. In this way, the family is reminded of its common origins.
One of the finest collections of totem poles in the world can be found in Thunderbird Park, at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria. Beacon Hill Park is home to the world’s tallest, free-standing totem pole carved from a single log. Alert Bay on Northern Vancouver Island is home to the tallest totem pole in the world, at 53 metres (two parts), and features 22 figures and requires binoculars to make out the details at the top.
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Nahnum
The nahnum (or fire circle) is a gathering place where stories and teachings are shared. The circular seating and fire burning are traditions that started in the tribes' winter homes, where members of all generations would sit and talk with the elders. Nahnum is the equivalent of sitting around the kitchen table, having dinner and talking about your day. More formal gatherings are held to discuss business matters. During those meetings, a talking stick is used to indicate which person will have the floor. Gatherings are still practiced today, although they may not be around a fire. Talking face-to-face is an important tradition for the Aboriginal people. If a person needs a favour or some advice from an elder, he or she must go to the elder's home to have tea and talk. As a result of this tradition, many elders don't have telephones or e-mail.
Dropped Eagle Feather
Powwow dancers are warned to take care that all parts of their outfits are firmly attached. If a feather comes off during their dancing, the dance is interrupted by the Arena Director. The Arena Director chooses an appropriate ceremony to pick up the feather and everyone is told what has happened. The ceremony cannot be photographed or videotaped. It usually includes a drum song, and an elder dancer dances and picks up the feather and gives words of advice. The ceremony is a teaching for the dancers as well as the audience; it shows how important it is to respect yourself and your culture. The eagle feather is a very sacred object; it symbolizes spiritual strength. The way the eagle feather is treated shows the way we respect our ancestors, our culture and ourselves.
Storytelling
The Aboriginal culture is based on an oral history and it is the elders who are responsible for sharing the stories of the ancestors. The elders are the history keepers, an important role for a culture who has few other sources of history from a native perspective. The Aboriginal people are keenly aware that, as times change, they could lose the stories about their history. Now, with the permission of the individual elder, they are video and audio taping storytelling gatherings.
Potlach
The potlach is a sacred ceremony and the societal underpinning of the Aboriginal culture. Through this ceremony, Native people unite families in marriage, name children, right wrongs, pass on rights and responsibilities to the next generation and share wealth. From 1884 to 1951, the potlach was outlawed by the Canadian government as part of an attempt to destroy Aboriginal culture and force the assimilation of its people. Masks and regalia were confiscated, destroying priceless historical treasures. Only in recent
years have the traditions come to life once again, through the memories of the elders and the efforts of present-day Native people.
Masks
Like totem poles, Aboriginal masks depict different symbols used in the stories of a tribe. The masks carved for a tribe are used for ceremonial purposes. The most common symbols on both masks and totems are: the thunderbird, killer whale, frog, salmon, beaver, bear, wolf, sun, moon and raven.
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