Before a hunt or raiding party a warrior would sing at one camp and then move on, and at each camp, a different song would be sung. People would join in and help the warrior and the crowd would get bigger and bigger until sunrise when the group dispersed without a word.

Women dressed in women’s clothing would help warriors reenact the battles that took place. Warriors would come home with scalps on the end of a stick and a song was sung for a group of women to go to certain camps to prepare for the dance. And another song was sung for them women entering the dance pavilion. After many songs, the women would leave the group and would return dressed in ragged clothes, their faces blackened with ash and carrying a stick. Sometimes the women would place a stick on a man’s shoulder and if not pushed away, they were assumed to be married.

Scouts would return to camp with news and he would ride outside of camp making wolf sounds. The camp, after hearing this, would come to the edge of camp and sing the Scout’s Song. The leader would hit him with a stick after he was approached, then the scout would signal what he had seen. He would be asked what he had seen either animal or human and he would tell what he has seen.

Items left on the ground signal the Lost Article Dance, and after the dance is done, the warrior may pick up what he has lost. This song was sung to get warrior together to show of their great deeds. After stories were told, another song is sung to signal the end of the dance and warriors were taken from the dance pavilion.

This is used as a song in competitions because of the rapid and unique drum beat. Back in the day, a man relaxing in a field awoke to the noise of a song near him. When he got up he saw the Prairie Chicken dancing and singing in a prayer. When the man went back to his people he showed them the dance of the Prairie Chicken-the dancers strut around and show off like the Prairie Chicken did.

Many songs are sung for the memorial dance, they are usually sung on the first day of camp. Children are asked to stay silent and not yell during their play to respect the dead. The first day is the day to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away before the powwow starts. People who have lost someone carry items and keepsakes of those people, during the time when persons with special inheritance are led by spiritual leaders. The camp sheds tears many in memory, and afterwards the MC announces “leave your sorrows; it is now time to celebrate happiness.

A special song is sung for this dance to begin the war dance. Now, the MC announces that the dancers should come out and dance together, people of many different tribes meet each other and dance together.

Dancers gather together in their own unique outfits and bring new dance steps to the dance pavilion. There are many songs for this dance, many are fast and slow, and depending on the song dancers must move faster or slower. They often are much lower to the ground, reaching up to the Great Spirit.


Dancers of all tribes gather into a line at a certain spot at the dance pavilion, and the dancers dance together in a single file line. The lines moves in a curvy, snake-like fashion, giving the name, Snake Dance.

In the head of the line veterans, chief of the celebration, and war dance chief hold the American and Flathead flag which are attached to long staffs and are decorated in eagle feathers. Visitors must remove their hats and stand for the entire song as a sign of respect.