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This book examines the contest powwow to better understand what it means to participants and how it carries on the beauty of Native American culture. The authors assess how competitive dancing aligns with and differs from traditional sports while introducing their concept of Cultural Tethering Theory to understand its importance.
The Native American Contest Powwow introduces Cultural Tethering Theory to convey the importance of the contest powwow in the celebration and preservation of Native American culture. The book addresses the concepts of culture, cultural change, acculturation, assimilation, and illustrates how competitive powwows align with and differ from competitive sporting events. Authors Steven Aicinena and Sebahattin Ziyanak go on to explain how the modern intertribal contest powwow evolved and why modern Native American cultures are experiencing an erosion of traditional values, a rapid loss of traditional languages, dysfunctional changes in social organization, limited opportunity to transmit culturally valued knowledge, and reduced opportunities for youths to observe culturally appropriate behavior. The authors also examine Native American identity and explore who can legitimately claim to be a Native American under current laws and customs. Additional topics addressed include blood quantum, cultural knowledge, cultural participation, being Indian, and playing Indian. Finally, the authors describe the difference between being Native American and playing Indian in powwow and pseudo-cultural powwow environments.
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Contest Powwow
Chapter 1: The Powwow: From Sacred Spiritual Gathering to Competitive Event
Chapter 2: Similarities and Differences between the Gathering of Nations Contest Powwow and a University of New Mexico Lobo Basketball Game
Chapter 3: Contest Powwow Dancing as a Competitive Sport
Chapter 4: Contest Powwow Announcers: Purveyors of Culture and Traditions
Chapter 5: Is the Contest Powwow a Spiritual Ceremony?
Chapter 6: The Contest Powwow: A Ceremony Fostering Tradition and Social Change
Chapter 7: Cultural Tethering Theory