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Sorry I didn’t think to post this sooner than eve of event.
The NC Museum of History is holding this Celebration SATURDAY NOV 22 from 11am until 4pm at it’s downtown Raleigh location. 5 E. Edenton St (919) 715-0200
Music, dancing, story-telling, craft demonstrations, hands-on activities and food
Becky and I will be there for opening ceremonies………
Be advised that the Raleigh Christmas parade will start at 10am just 2 blocks away…… some streets will be blocked off and traffic should be horrid but we need to hear the drum again before winter sets in.
peace
Ken
We were there for the Grand Entry and stayed for the closing of the drums. The displays and demos were very good. I talked to a lot of people, some met at other powwows and some new friends. The dancing as demonstration was good and I guess the explanations were good enough, considering the great number of the audience, but…….. the audience wasn’t asked to stand and remove headgear for Grand Entry…….. the sacred circle wasn’t defined…….. veterans weren’t honored…….. and there was no prayer when the drums closed. The drums still touched my spirit and lifted me up so it was all good 😉
peace
Ken
I think it gets confusing when an event is not defined as a pow wow, per se. I’ve seen that happen at other events, where a drum and dancing are brought in as part of an overall, non-pow wow event. Some people are dismayed to see the lessening of etiquette.
I know at least one person from Pine Ridge who thinks we’re all a bit up too tight out here, too worried about doing things right, and not concerned enough about the spirit of the thing and keeping it a good celebration, which in his mind might entail throwing a line dance into the middle of the pow wow.
Linda, I know people here in Oklahoma who think just the opposite — you need to do it “their way” or you are not for real.
You just can’t please everyone, so ya might as well please yourselves. 🙂
I guess I am coming around a little.
vance
Linda says >>> I know at least one person from Pine Ridge who thinks we’re all a bit up too tight out here, too worried about doing things right, and not concerned enough about the spirit of the thing and keeping it a good celebration, which in his mind might entail throwing a line dance into the middle of the pow wow.
So far, John Jeffries had MCed all the powwows, homecomings, and celebrations that Becky and I have attended…. except this one and the Indian Gathering at the state fair. He is always very respectful of spirit and honor, while keeping it very friendly for audience. Providing an opportunity for the audience to enter the circle in a respectful manner and enjoy it is probably the best way possible to create goodwill and acceptance of native values.
peace
Ken
Then there are others in the region who think it’s not a real pow wow unless you have primarily carded NDNs in the circle. I guess making it a contest pow wow and then requiring that only people with cards from tribes at least state recognized is a way to ensure this, though we have no cards and often attend them and have a great time with good friends. We just don’t dance in the competition dances. Most of our family is usually drumming and dancing at pow wows. The kids especially enjoy having nothing to do but rip and run with their friends all day. We used to hear that these were bad, snobby pow wows with people who had an attitude toward non-status people, but now we know better.
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