Abenaki Lifestyles and Traditions

In the 1600's, the Abenaki gatherings were more significant than they are today. Many "pow wows" as they called them, are still used as entertainment today. The early gatherings were to celebrate important milestones such as weddings, death, trading, the planting moon, warefare and the harvest moon.

The ceremonies were very spiritual. They began by praying to the Creator, Mother Earth, and Father Sky. They would ask them to bless the grounds, the people who were there and those who were not. These ceremonies would consist of Abenaki blessing the circle with smoke, dancing and playing the drums. The following is how a gathering ceremony song would be sung. The eldery would go first, followed by the next of kin. The first song would be a welcoming song, followed by the grand entry song. Each song would have a purpose. The calling would bring the dancers to a circle. The grad entry song would call everyone to the circle; followed by honoring the land, the dead, warriors, ancestors and creators. There are many different songs with different meanings.

A Pow Wow is basically a large festival. The Native wear colorful dress, and sing and dance to drums. To the Abenaki, a pow wow is referred to as a medicine gathering; a time and place to heal and gain spiritual guidance. The music, dance and artistic expression were ways to heal. A Pow Wow was also a place for socializing, match making, and trading. Although the ways have changed, today Abenaki still think of pow wows as a spiritual act.