Into the Circle provides insight into the origins of Oklahoma pow-wows, or Native American gatherings. According to Abe Conklin of the Ponca and Osage tribes, the pow-wows of Oklahoma began in 1877 after the United States army forced the Ponca people from the northern plains of Nebraska into Indian territory in Oklahoma. The conditions associated with this great move were brutal and a number of the Ponca people perished. Despite these tragic events, the spirit of the Ponca people remained unbroken. After their arrival to Oklahoma, the Ponca people held a pow-wow and danced and sung in celebration of surviving their harsh journey.
Conklin’s explanation of the origins of pow-wows in Oklahoma accounts for the Ponca tribe, but there are also a
Conklin’s explanation of the origins of pow-wows in Oklahoma accounts for the Ponca tribe, but there are also a