Last weekend we visited Traders Village in San Antonio. It is the premier"Flea Market" in San Antonio and features over 1,000 vendors selling virtually anything and everything from tires to turkey legs. It is also the sight where a number of functions are held. On the day we visited there was a POW WOW. Just to freshen your memories a A pow-wow (also powwow or pow wow ) is a gathering of North America's Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader". A modern pow-wow is a specific type of event where both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American Indian culture. There is generally a dancing competition, often with significant prize money awarded. Pow-wows vary in length from one day session of 5 to 6 hours to three days. Major pow-wows or pow-wows called for a special occasion can be up to one week long.
The term also has been used to describe any gathering of Native Americans of any tribe, and as such is occasionally heard in older Western movies. The word has also been used to refer to a meeting, especially a meeting of powerful people such as officers in the military. However, such use can also be viewed as disrespectful to Native culture.
Throughout the day there were many dances and the variety of wonderful dress with vibrant colours made for very pleasant experience.
We took the opportunity to try an Indian meatpie. This was made with ground beef and encased in a dough like pastry. It was very tasty. It has spured our interest to see the POW WOW which is held each year in Dakota.
Best wishes,
Bev and Ross
The Pow Wows sure are colourful aren't they! We have only been to one in Bismarck, North Dakota back about 2 years ago. Held early Sep each year and attracts about 20,000 people. http://www.unitedtribespowwow.com.
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