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"Pow wow" is an American English term derived from Natick (Wampanoag) pauwau, meaning "he uses divination" or "he speaks to the gods". It originally meant a priest, medicine man or Holy man who could converse with the spirit world.

In the sense of a gathering of chiefs, a council, it was first used by white Americans in 1812; the native term for such a council was definitely not "pow wow".

Later any gathering of natives was called a pow wow by whites and today many native groups have adopted that same American English term for their traditional celebrations, dance competitions, singing and drumming - without understanding the original meaning. In many ways this is a very sad reflection of the impact of whites on native culture.

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