Powwow

Starred review from March 1, 2020

Gr 5 Up-Pheasant-Neganigwane, a lifelong Anishinaabe competitive powwow dancer and educator, summarizes the basics of powwow culture through a series of sections highlighting its origins, current elements, songs and dances, and regional differences across Canada and the United States. The author clearly explains the origins of the powwow within colonization, as well as its evolution and growing popularity. Sidebars describe different elements of the powwow, supplementing the main text, while other pullout sections provide directions for popular First Nations recipes. A range of high-quality, black-and-white photographs from different powwows also supplement the text. A glossary and an index are included in the back matter. The book is clearly organized and educational-an incredibly useful tool for both school and public libraries. Readers will enjoy learning about current powwows as well as their rich history within Indigenous culture. VERDICT This comprehensive primer of the history and importance of the powwow in North American Indigenous culture is a necessary purchase.-Kelsey Socha, Springfield City Library, MA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2020
Grades 4-7 Pheasant-Neganigwane introduces readers to powwows, public celebrations of Indigenous songs and dances, by recounting some personal experiences as a powwow dancer. She then explains that these events developed in the late 1800s, specifically in response to North American colonialism and repressive laws, and describes today's powwow culture (including parades, foods, competitions, and giveaways), songs and dances (specific steps for men, women, and children, as well as drumming protocols), and regional differences. Chapters are divided into short, manageable sections, headlined for easy reference. The book is generously illustrated with captioned, crisp-edged images, including both stock and personal photographs. Numerous sidebars provide pullout quotes, powwow facts, recipes, and personal accounts. Throughout, Pheasant-Neganigwane stresses the importance of these celebrations as a means of passing on cultural traditions, healing family dysfunction resulting from Indian residential schools and discriminatory laws, and instilling a sense of pride in the heritage of these nations. Attractive, informative, and essential for diverse collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

February 1, 2020
The modern powwow has been uniting Indigenous peoples in joyous celebration of culture for decades, but its roots are far older. Anishninaabe author and educator Pheasant-Neganigwane has crafted a narrative that tells the history of the powwow, a celebration of Indigenous culture that occurs throughout North America. She describes the history of colonization and Indigenous resistance that culminated in the 19th century--a time when song and dance gatherings also were restricted by both the governments of Canada and the U.S. Holding steadfast to traditional culture and expressing it in the unlikeliest of places--the so-called "wild west shows" and harvest fairs--Indigenous peoples gradually developed these gatherings of song and dance into what are now vibrant celebrations that occur across the continent all year long. The powwow includes many aspects of Indigenous culture: rodeos, fashion shows, and even music awards. The gallery of photos throughout the book gives readers seats at a powwow, an event that is described as a continual space to restore kinship and preserve Indigenous identity. Weaving her own powwow experiences into her narrative, the author describes the formal elements of a powwow as well as regional variations. Sidebars look at related topics such as fry bread and victory songs, and the book ends with a brief primer of powwow etiquette and glossary of cultural vocabulary. An enriching, information-rich resource that centers an Indigenous perspective. (resources) (Nonfiction. 8-14)

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