• Listen to the Master of Ceremonies.

• Do not sit within the arena. The chairs inside the arena are reserved for the dancers and drummers. Use the outside circle or bleachers if provided.

• If you want to take pictures, check with the POWWOW host first, such as FN@UW Officers, then check with the person you are taking pictures of and ASK THEIR PERMISSION. Under no circumstances may you enter the arena to take photos. Put your camera down for all memorial dances.

• All tape recording must be done with the permission of the Master of Ceremonies and the Lead (or Head) Singer of EACH drum, as well as the POWWOW Host. When a new drum starts, do not enter the arena to get to the other drum. Don't run. Miss the song and wait for the next one to take your time getting to the drum. Nothing is more rude than "Recorder-runners" ganging around a drum. Many Powwows disallow this anyway.

• If you are not wearing Dancer Regalia, you may dance during social songs (like Two-Step, Inter-Tribals, Blanket Dance, Honoring Songs, Circle, etc..) Sometimes a blanket dance is held to gather money. You may enter the circle to donate. Inter-tribals are for all tribes of all nations. So join in then if this is your first time powwin'.

• Only those with the permission of the Lead Singer may sit at a drum. (And it's a good idea to know the songs because it's often a habit to ask the "stranger" to lead one.)

• During the Grand Entry, Flag Songs, Invocation, Memorial, Veterans Songs, and the Closing Song, you must stand and men must remove their hat (unless traditional head gear) or hats with eagle feathers. Many elder native veterans have eagle feathers on their baseball hats. Just because they do not remove those does not mean you can leave yours on.

• During the Gourd Dancing, only Gourd Dancers and Gourd Dance Societies are to enter the Dance arena. Owning a gourd rattle does not make one a Gourd Dancer. Check with the local Societies.

• Please do not permit your childern to enter the dance circle unless they are dancing. Many powwows have childern's activities areas, however they are not staffed to watch your kids, so please keep an eye on the little ones.

• Do not touch anyone's dance Regalia without their permission. These clothes are not "costumes" and yes we use modern things like saftey pins and such because we are a "living" culture, our Regalia is subject to change.

• If you are asked to dance by an elder, do so. It is rude and disrespectful to say, "I don't know how." How can you learn if you turn the elders down?

• Most all Powwows do not allow Alcoholic beverages or drugs here. The Powwow is a time of joyful gathering and celebration of life. Alcohol and drugs are destroying our way of life and are not welcome.

• It's funny how much trash we as people drop. Make an extra effort to walk to the trash can. Respect Mother Earth and help the Powwow Committee who are often needed elsewhere besides picking up trash.

• Remember always: Native American Indian dances are more than the word "dance" can describe. They are a ceremony and a prayer which all life encompasses and produce many emotional and spiritual reactions. Some dances are old, some are brand new... the culture continues to live and evolve.

• Urban Powwows are much more "tense" than Powwows on the rez. As people are away from the comfort of culture, they tend to take things more seriously. Abide by people's wishes and requests. We as Indian people believe differently. Some dance around clock-wise, others counter clock-wise. If our host asks, we sometimes voluntarily show our respect by temporaily changing our way(s). Show your respect by doing the same.

• Have fun. Buy something from the vendors. Donate if you can. The Annual UW Spring Powwow is kept free by generous donations from our co-sponsors and from powwowers buying T-Shirts, programs and fry-bread. So buy a couple T-Shirts, they are often beautiful. And most of all don't be uptight. The whole universe comes together this day to celebrate. You are invited to join in.

These General Powwow Etiquette Rules were contributed to the Nat-Chat email discussion list by:

--Charles Phillip Whitecoyote*

and originally posted by Pauline, with minor alterations.