Opinion: How will Pow Wows be different when they resume?
Previously published on powwows.com
By Paul Gowder
Pow Wow Season should be in full swing now!
Denver March should have kicked off the summer season followed by Gathering of Nations in April. Unfortunately, both of those events and dozens of other Pow Wows have been cancelled or postponed.
BUT Pow Wow Season will start again.
How and when?
We don’t know when, but we will all be back dancing and singing again together.
Pow Wows will not be the same, however.
Below are my thoughts and conjecture of what will change with Pow Wows. This is all just guessing though and will vary from depending on the location and circumstances.
Immediately, I suspect, there will be restrictions and regulations on large public gatherings enacted by local, state and federal authorities. In addition, venues may have their own restrictions and timelines for opening. Here in my state, the Colonial Life Arena has cancelled all events through July. High Schools are now scrambling to find other venues for graduations – if that can happen.
The Mayor of LA has stated that large gatherings there may be banned until 2021. Will other areas follow?
Some areas of the US and Canada may be slower opening back up. So Pow Wows won’t start up again everywhere. The normal schedule and trail of events will be drastically different.
Health Screenings
Jurisdictions are likely to require some type of health screenings at large gatherings. This could include temperature checks, health questionnaire, and more detailed physical exams.
Before the shutdown, the cruise industry started heightened health screenings. During your boarding process, your temperature was taken. If your temperature was over a certain number you were escorted to another area for additional testing. Screenings similar to this may be mandatory in some parts of the United States and Canada.
Increased Sanitation
How many times a day are you washing your hands now? Think of all the things you touch at a Pow Wow. How many items are passed and shared?
Events will obviously have to install handwashing stations and sanitizer dispensers. I also expect items to be wiped and cleaned more often. Judges will probably have to clean the clipboards before passing to the next judge, for example. Events may pot to have more registrations for dancers and singers using online tools instead of paper and pen.
Dancers, Singers and Spectator Protection
Masks for dancers? Masks for singers? Maybe!
Event organizers will have to keep the safety of guests as a priority. This will mandate changes to some Pow Wow traditions. The first events to open will likely use social distancing as much as possible to protect the participants. Grand Entry may be smaller. Each category may dance in then exit while the next category comes in. Line ups for judging may be spread across the arena. Dancers may just stand in place instead of forming a line.
Dance contest categories may be broken into smaller groups with more heats. Larger events may have limits on the number of tickets sold.
Emcees won’t be able to share a microphone. Drum runners will either have to sanitize the mic before heading to another drum or have dedicated mics for each group.
What else will change?
We won’t know until states and cities start opening up again. The first few Pow Wows will be watched closely by other communities to see what worked and what didn’t. All large public gatherings will be under increased scrutiny. Restrictions and rules will change as officials learn and adapt.