Wild Horse Powwow at Saxon High School

A powwow is not so much a religious event as a cultural event. Nearly half of Native Americans today are Christian and powwows give Native Americans a chance to reconnect to the past and reclaim their heritage. Powwows are rarely held for one tribe alone; most are hosted by a diversity of tribes from the surrounding areas. Since the 19th century, there has been a Pan-Indianism movement, which was motivated by a need for Native Americans of different tribes to unite against the Europeans. The ramifications of the Pan-Indianism movement are clear today in events such as the Wild Horse Powwow in Torrance.

The actual ceremonial presentations performed at powwows today have changed little in hundreds of years, but their meaning has changed. The religious connotations of these powwows has decreased.

Powwows today are mainly an opportunity for Native Americans to congregate and discuss policy issues. At the 37th annual Powwow at CSU Long Beach, many stands were dedicated to modern policy issues such as increasing allotment of land to tribes and substance abuse programs.

Within powwows, a schism is evident amongst Native Americans. The youth are more progressive and appreciate change in the ceremonies and practices whereas the elders are more dogmatic. Some practices are symbolic of the strain of conservatism amongst Native American cultures such as the use of peyote despite its legal status.