Spokane Culture for Young People

Here are some interesting facts about Pow Wow:

The Pow Wow originated before Indians were placed on reservations. Due to limited food supply, most Tribes were not assembled in one large group or Tribe. Many Tribes would converge and come together in the spring or summer to harvest or hunt/fish for their winter food supply. When the various bands of a Tribe came together to harvest the food supply, it was a time of fun, socialization, visiting, and games, etc. This livelihood of the annual round by many Tribes was a sign of not only the economics of food, but also re-uniting the bands to show solidarity as one people,

The modern day Pow Wow is a time for people to get together with their own people as well as friends, To socialize and have a good time.

Some people come to a Pow Wow Just to visit their old friends and relatives, while others come to gamble (stick games) or participate in the dancing. Some people do all of these things.

The Spokane Tribe consisted of three main bands dispersed along the Spokane River: the Lower Band, the Middle Band, and the Upper Band. In early times, the rivers were abundant with fish (salmon) . The Spokanes and other bands of other Tribes would gather at various salmon fishing places to fish or trade for salmon . Salmon was an important economic food for the Spokanes and other river peoples.

In the early part of the century, most Spokane Indian families grew their own vegetables in their own garden. The Pow Wow/fair was a time for people to bring their vegetables from their garden to show just as in a modern day country fair. Foot races, horse races, and games took place at the early day fair/Pow Wow.

The Spokane Indian: Labor Day Pow Wow began in 1913 and has evolved into the modern era Pow Wow with prize money for the dance contest and the traditional stick game (gambling) Concessionaires selling all types of goods are a part of the modern day Pow Wow. The fees the concessionaires pay to sell and exhibit their wares help to pay the cost of expenses incurred from the Pow Wow.

by Pat Moses - first published in the Rural Review - Wellpinit School District Newsletter , November 1993. Revised May, 1997