A powwow is a gathering where Native American people come together to celebrate their culture through dancing, singing, drumming, and storytelling. At a powwow, dancers wear beautiful regalia (traditional clothing decorated with beads, feathers, and other meaningful items), and drummers play while singers perform songs passed down through generations.

Modern powwows are social celebrations that bring together people from different tribes and welcome visitors who want to learn about Native American traditions. Some powwows are small community events, while others attract thousands of participants and spectators. Dancers often compete in different categories, and the atmosphere combines serious cultural respect with joyful celebration.

While early powwows included spiritual ceremonies, today's powwows mainly serve as opportunities to maintain cultural traditions, strengthen community bonds, and share Native American heritage with others. People who attend a powwow respectfully get to experience the vibrant diversity of Native American cultures through their music, dance, art, and food.

Outside Native American contexts, people sometimes use powwow casually to mean any meeting or discussion, like “Let's have a powwow about the school fundraiser,” but this informal usage doesn't capture the word's cultural significance.