Article

In contemporary usage, a powwow is an Indigenous gathering—often intertribal—centered on song, drumming, dance, community, and cultural continuity.  Powwows may be private or public, may take place indoors or outdoors, and can range from local community homecomings to significant events that draw dancers, singers, and spectators from far away.  Many modern powwows include a structured program (for example, a Grand Entry, honoring songs, and specific dance categories).  They may be traditional (non-competitive) or competition/contest powwows with prize categories.

In mainstream English, the word has long been used to mean a meeting or conference—“Let’s have a powwow”—but dictionaries now emphasize respecting its cultural importance, fostering appreciation and understanding among the audience.

The word’s origin: a Native term reshaped by English

Etymology (where the word comes from)

“Powwow” entered English in the early 1600s through colonial contact in New England, originating from Narragansett and Massachusett forms, with roots in spiritual power and practices such as dreaming and divination, underscoring its deep cultural significance.

Etymonline similarly notes early English use in the 1620s referring to an Indigenous “priest” or “conjurer,” and connects it to Southern New England Algonquian roots linked to dreaming/divination.

How meaning shifted in English

Over time, English speakers expanded the term from denoting a spiritual specialist to denoting the ceremony and, eventually, to a gathering or council.  The OED records early 17th-century usage and later broadened senses; Etymonline notes the “council/meeting” sense is documented by the 1800s.

From ceremony to “pan-Indian” gathering: how modern powwows emerged

It’s essential to separate the word’s origin (Northeastern Indigenous languages) from the contemporary powwow form, which developed most strongly through Plains and intertribal histories.

Smithsonian: modern powwows have Plains roots and intertribal History

The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage explains that while Indigenous communities have held ceremonial gatherings for centuries, modern powwows derive from more recent Plains-area ceremonies, shaped by intertribal exchange and solidarity during the upheavals of the late 19th century.  It highlights the development and diffusion of intertribal traditions such as the Drum Religion and the Grass Dance/Helushka Society.  It notes that these gatherings became “homecoming” events where families separated by removal policies could reunite—key precursors to modern powwows.

University-based cultural education: a living, evolving intertribal practice

Indiana University’s First Nations Educational & Cultural Center describes powwows as evolving from warrior societies into vibrant intertribal celebrations of culture, dance, and community, inspiring pride and a sense of living tradition among the audience.

Britannica: the term’s “cultural career” included non-Native appropriation

Britannica adds another layer: it notes that in the early 1800s, traveling medicine shows used “powwow” to market cure-alls and exhibitions, and that the term became attached to public dance exhibitions—helping the name spread in non-Native contexts even as Indigenous communities developed their own forms and labels.  Smithsonian Magazine also describes how intertribal powwows expanded and evolved into significant modern events, including competitive circuits.

What happens at a powwow?  (A respectful, general overview)

Powwows vary by region and community, but many share common elements:

• Drumming and singing: the drum is central and often treated with respect as more than an instrument.
• Dance: styles may include traditional men’s and women’s categories and newer forms developed in modern powwow culture; some events are competitive.
• Regalia, what outsiders sometimes call “costumes,” are better understood as regalia—often handmade, meaningful, and tied to family/community identity.
• Community functions: beyond performance, powwows often include honoring veterans, memorials, giveaways, visiting, and teaching younger people.

A key point from Smithsonian’s History is that modern powwows are closely linked to intertribal exchange and solidarity, especially in eras when U.S. policies pressured or restricted many Indigenous practices; powwows became a space where cultural expression and communal reunion could persist and adapt.

The “meeting” meaning—and why it can be sensitive

Many English speakers use “powwow” casually for “meeting,” but this usage is increasingly criticized.  Merriam-Webster explicitly labels the use of “powwow” to refer generally to a social gathering or meeting as “informal + offensive” and characterizes it as an offensive appropriation of a term of great cultural significance.  Wikipedia likewise notes that some Native Americans consider the generic “meeting” usage offensive because of the cultural importance of powwows.

Practical guidance:

• If you mean “meeting,” consider alternatives like huddle, check-in, roundtable, or meetup—especially in professional settings.
• If you are referring to an actual Indigenous powwow, use “powwow” respectfully and specifically, including the event’s proper name and host nation or organization when known, to foster respect and accurate understanding among your audience.

A brief timeline (word + practice)

• Early 1600s: “Powwow” enters English via colonial New England, drawn from Narragansett/Massachusett forms; early uses refer to a spiritual specialist and related practices.
• 1800s: The term broadens in English to mean councils/gatherings; non-Native entertainment and medicine-show uses help spread the term.
• Late 1800s to early 1900s: Modern powwow culture takes recognizable shape through Plains-region intertribal exchange; terms, forms, and public visibility expand.
• 20th century to present: Powwows flourish across North America as intertribal and community gatherings, including competitive circuits and significant public events.

Why the origin story matters

“Powwow” is an excellent example of how a Native word entered English, was reinterpreted and sometimes misused by outsiders, and then became attached to a resilient Indigenous practice that continues to evolve.  The word’s roots point back to Northeastern Indigenous languages and spiritual roles, while the modern gathering reflects a much broader intertribal History—especially Plains and pan-Indigenous networks.  Understanding both helps avoid stereotypes: powwows are not “ancient stage shows,” but living cultural gatherings with protocols, meanings, and community purposes.