What types of natives are there? What is a pow-wow?
There are 573 federally recognized tribes in the US. You may hear different names used to describe these indigenous people like; tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities, and native villages.
There are about 229 tribes in Alaska, while 344 are located in 33 other states. These 562 tribes are considered sovereign nations, meaning they have the right of self-government, to be in control of their citizens, lands, and resources.
A pow-wow is an event where the same or different tribal groups come together to dance, sing, and socialize. They range from small gatherings to the largest pow-wow with about 72,000 in attendance called the Gathering of Nations held in Albuquerque, NM. Pow-wow’s came about as a response to the U.S. governments attempt to eliminate indigenous people. It’s a place to regroup, find strength, and honor who we are today as indigenous people.
Hope this helps. Thanks for writing in!
Auntie Manda
