Kolby KickingWoman
ICT
There are a number of sounds you hear at a powwow. From aunties laughing to kids crying to the emcee making jokes, it is a symphony of sounds; meshing together to make an unforgettable experience.
At the center of it all, is the drum.
Over the course of a powwow weekend, anyone at the powwow is sure to hear a number of songs and styles. Singers and groups know a countless amount, often getting songs passed to them and composing their own.
Many tribes have Flag Songs, similar to the United States national anthem, that the host tribe will sing at the end of grand entry. There are honor and ceremonial songs, which are sung in specific instances. Most common are the songs drum groups sing during intertribals, where everyone is invited into the circle to dance, and contest songs, of which the different categories are competing in over the course of the powwow.
While there are nuances and differences within songs, there are also different styles of drum groups. Most notably northern and southern drums.
The former is associated with the Great Plains and Great Lakes regions along with Canada. Perhaps one of the more recognized groups is Northern Cree, a drum group from Alberta that has received nine Grammy nominations since 2002.
The northern drum style is often fast-paced and involves vocals at a higher pitch than that of the southern drum counterpart. Southern drums are smooth and slow but that doesn’t mean the tempo can’t be increased when needed.
Southern drum groups are often associated with Oklahoma and the Southern Plains.
Last updated in March 2025, powwows.com put out the top 10 drum groups of all time (after asking ChatGPT) and Yellowhammer from Oklahoma was the highest-ranked southern group at number three.
“They’ve been a fixture at many of the biggest events across Indian Country and are widely respected for their dedication to preserving Southern style,” the article states.
The AI list features a good mix of northern and southern drums and would be an interesting exercise to replicate among those who hit the powwow trail regularly.
While there are many similarities between the two drum styles; there are also subtle, important differences. Drums represent their tribes, regions and histories. Attending a powwow will allow an individual to see the diversity in Indian Country.
Next time you are at a powwow, take note to see if you can tell the different styles between drums and enjoy the music that makes tribal communities and Indian Country so unique.
