Powwows have taken place for hundreds of years. The term Powwow actually originated from the Narragansett's word for shaman. A powwow is a celebration and social gathering honoring sacred Native American traditions through dancing, drumming, singing, and the gathering of people. Today, powwows have developed into a gathering of people of all nations. Many Native Americans travel from powwow to powwow during the season to visit with old friends.
Vendors often sell hand made Native American jewelry, art, music and crafts at the powwows.
Ceremonial powwows are closed to non-tribal members while other powwows are open to the public and everyone is welcomed. Our Tribe hosts four public Powwow events every year. This bill, totally unrelated to Indian Affairs, reopened our Government after it had been effectively shutdown. The legislative intent of the rider was to transfer jurisdictional control over the casino project from the federal government to the state government of Rhode Island. The Tribe would then be forced to pursue a casino as if they were any other private entity in the State.