Intertribal dance and cross cultural communication: Traditional powwows in Ohio

Abstract

Powwows such as those in the central Ohio area offer opportunity to explore a complex set of inter‐and intracultural communication. American Indian efforts to increase common understanding of contemporary Native America, powwow stresses American Indian commonalities in relation to mainstream American culture. In the context of the American Indian community they stress tribal individuality and they value intertribal negotiation rather than pan‐ethnic conglomeration or assimilation.