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Omaha Indian powwows place great importance on contest songs. It is conceivable that this is because the traditional means of proving one?s worth in the tribe - namely victories on the warpath, collecting scalps and other items of merit - are no longer applicable. Contest songs present Native Americans with an opportunity to relive the pomp and regalia of the past, and therefore involve highly symbolic wordings, steps and costumes. Each tribe usually has its own ?champions? and these are enthusiastically supported by the spectators. The parameters by which winners are traditionally chosen are obscure at best, though skill and performance are certainly factors. However, at least one event - the Clown?s Contest - was judged mainly by audience. The 1983 Omaha Indians powwow was a heavily attended and participated-in affair, and various tribes were represented. The atmosphere was extremely festive and it was evident that a lot of forethought, planning and preparation had gone into the making of this event. The eighteen contest songs included on the Omaha Indian Music - Contest Songs CD from A2ZCDS are live recordings from the event and reflect the ethnic festivity of the powwow. The sheer primitive beat and the elicited reactions from participants and audience alike succeed in conveying the joy and excitement that prevailed during the powwow at Macy, Nebraska in 1983.