How did World War I help revive powwow-related homecoming dances?

Following the end of World War I, the revival of homecoming dances was primarily driven by celebrations honoring the return of Native American veterans.1

Prior to this period, the warrior society dances that served as the foundation for later powwow styles had nearly disappeared due to the suppression of traditional cultural practices by the U.S. and Canadian governments. The armistice provided a catalyst for these communities to publicly honor their veterans, which fostered a resurgence of traditional homecoming celebrations.1

This era also marked a shift in social dynamics among Indigenous peoples. As the war concluded, a sense of pan-Indian kinship began to emerge, leading to increased interaction between different tribes. In regions like Oklahoma, where federal removal policies had previously forced disparate tribes into close proximity, communities began inviting members of neighboring tribes to their dances as a matter of course. This practice of intertribal gathering eventually spread to northern Plains reservations as the use of automobiles became more common, helping to establish the inclusive, intertribal nature of the modern powwow.1