Welcome to Episode 124 of Ramping Up your English! This episode focuses on gatherings of Native Americans known as Powwows.
Most people have heard the term Pow Wow, but there’s a lot to know about these events and their importance to Tribes of North America. It’s all explored during this episode of Ramping Up your English.
Watching Episode 124: Pow Wow
Click here to watch Episode 124 of Ramping Up your English as seen on RVTV.
Episode Summary
Variety may be the best word to apply to Pow Wows. These events can be associated with celebrations, commemorations, or just gatherings. They can be competitive or non-competitive. They can be open to public, or closed. Yet there are things powwows have in common.
Featured guest Mary Mikkelsen helps viewers understand some of the facets of powwows and the importance to Tribes who host and attend them. Mikkelsen has attended more PowWows than she can count, and she routinely dances in them. In this episode, viewers of Ramping Up your English learn about what to expect in a Pow Wow and are encouraged to attend one.
Host John Letz has attended a few public Pow Wows as a guest, and has always felt welcomed. Indeed, the sense of welcome and openness are palpable and pervasive. Little else compares to the intentional welcome and acceptance found at these celebrations.
There’s the dancing, the drums, the regalia, the honoring of veterans, and the pride that make these family friendly, excitng, and colorful events as related in the video footage and the comments by Mary Mikkelsen and host John Letz.
Video Featured in Episode 124
In this episode, we featured videos about Native American Pow Wows. Click here to view the video that includes my interview with Mary Mikkelsen. For a shorter version of the same video, click here.
Links to Related Videos
Above is the Klamath Tribes Restoration Pow Wow Grand Entry:
Language Issues
This episode lends itself to the language function of characterizing. This is similar to describing, only it relates to aspects such as feeling tone, excitement level, and meaning. Here are a few of those characteristics of Pow Wows as shown in the featured video:
Sense of welcome and openness
Freedom of expression
Respect
Heritage
Generosity
I could add more, but look at how this relates to language. A few simple sentence frames cold be:
Most Pow Wows are characterized by ____________, _______________, and __________.
__________ is a common feature of Pow Wows.
____________ and ______________ are key elements of most Pow Wows.
If you attend a Pow Wow, you can expect to see _____ and _______.
That’s a good start. There’s plenty more you can say or write about Pow Wows. Feel free to watch the episode again if you need more input.
Personal Note
As this episode of Ramping Up your English is produced and published, I’m aware of some issues I should share with viewers. I’m aware that Ramping Up your English extends far beyond the borders of the United States. If you are planning to visit the United States, you should know that some very scary and awful events have occured to people entering the country. Travelers have been detained for hours and their phone confiscated by authorities.
Medications have been denied during this detention. Some have been detailed for many hours, then told their entry has been denied. Freedom of expression has been denied, especially political opinions. It’s been suggested that travelers leave their phones at home or purge any content that could be suppressed. Carrying a “burner phone” is advised.
The United States is rapidly sinking into a authoritarian fascist state. The tenets of freedom, openness, and tolerance can no longer be assumed. Even American citizens within our own borders have been detained. I never thought I’d have to advise to approach with caution.
Next Episode
Episode 125 is a theme that’s personal to me, yet very complicated for Tribes. Episode 125 is all about Education – past, present, and reaching into the future. Click here to visit the Episode 125 page for Ramping Up your English.