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Dreaminghawk and Becky
I want you to know ; that I truly enjoyed meeting you guy’s . It was very nice ; and I would have oved to walked by the waters and talked for a while . Could you all feel the presence of some of the Ancestors there . I truly Think that they were smiling down on us . I do wish we had gotten togeather on Saturday . Maybe we can hook up at some other PowPow . You guy’s are so nice . My wife really enjoyed meeting you to . She don’t take to to many people but she liked all you . I did find some more thing’s for my Regalia on the way home . It was in a yardsale . Well got to go for now , May the Spirit of our Ancestors continue to lead and guid you .
Later
Rick
I agree with Ken…it was a good weekend. Just regret not being able to get in the circle with Bee…but, it gave me a chance to visit with Rick and his lovely family. Yep, we will need to get together again….we will be going to a few more pow wows this year. And then there’s always next year….starting in February.
The mound was truly a good feeling place…and the little towns around there were quite hospitable. I hope next year we can go down early and spend an extra day enjoying the area. The weather was fantastic…hot, but no rain. There was much dancing…intertribals, ladies traditional, fancy, shawl, jingle, men’s traditional, sneakup, duck and dive, men’s fancy…..and if I left anything out you will have to excuse me. John Blackfeather was the emcee. The drumming was great…thanks to Birdchopper and Eastern Bull. John was very good at describing native american culture to the public, especially about the mounds and the Pee Dee. The river runs right next to the palisade..and it was very peaceful sitting down at the river watching (and listening) to the wildlife. We did not get a chance to go to the museum, but did visit the prayer hut and burial hut. They have mannequins in the burial hut that tell the story of burying a young child…it was sad. It was interesting to sit there and think how the area would have looked back then…an open grassland with the mounds…and the mountains surrounding it. I had no idea that that area of North Carolina had that many mountains. I truly enjoyed seeing more of our beautiful state…and being educated.
Bee, it was a wonderful feeling to see you enter the circle….I remember how I felt after my first time….akin to being baptized is the closest I can describe. And I hope you gained some energy from it….and hope the calves aren’t screaming too loud today…LOL.
Thanks all for a wonderful weekend….
Becky
Hey Y’all,
Town Creek was an awesome experience. It was wonderful to be able to share it with my new family—although it almost seems like we’ve known each other for years.
Rick, it was great to meet you and your family!
Can hardly wait until next time.
I don’t think words are enough to express my gratitude, but HUGE thank yas to Dreaminghawk and Mousini78 for “everything”. You guys are the best.
Beeleaf
It was like I said a pleasure to meet with you and Sandy . I hate that we could n’t spend more time togeather than what we did . I have been checking out some of the other Pow Wow’s and their dates and maybe we will get togeather with everone again . Again it was a great pleasure to meet all ya’ll .
Rick
Hey, no problem…I remember my first time and the support from you guys…aint’ that right, big sister??? …..ducking and running…..
Mousini78 wrote: John requires that you have on regalia when you dance in the circle unless it’s a public dance. Bee, you have the shirt, skirt, shawl, fan….all you would probably need would be mocs of some type, and it would be good if you could make sure your ankles are covered unless the skirt is really long…but, you can always ask Mike, Jeannie, John, or the arena director, if you aren’t sure. You should be able to join in the intertribals with the regalia you have.
Mike and Jeannie don’t usually dance anywhere that requires a card, so you can use that as your guide. They both have cards, but, it’s the principle of the thing.
Rick, I guess you will have to find us….you’ve seen my regalia…Ken dresses in men’s traditional with a hat that has a fox face and fox tail on it. We can usually be found hanging out with Mike(Thunderdancer) and Jeannie (Enahdah)…and of course, Bee and her partners in crime…LOL. We have not decided about spending the night down there…we may drive down on Sunday, depending on the feelings on Saturday. It’s about a 2.5 hr. drive from where we live. Looking forward to seeing everyone…..and may be Ken will bring his anniversary gift and play for everyone…..
Who ever it is telling you that it is “required” to have on regalia to dance in the arena doesn’t know very much about powwows I take it. Anyone can dance with or with out regalia on intertribals, round dances, ect regardless if they have in regalia or not, females should wear a shawl but they can still dance if they do not have one. The only time one should have on regalia is if they are competing (at a competition powwow) or dancing in an exibition of a certain dance catagory such as mens southern straight, nothern traditional, grass, fancy, or chicken, womens southern or northern cloth or buckskin, fancy shawl, or jingle. Powwows are about having a good time and enjoying yourself so if you want to dance go ahead, you don’t need regalia. But I would suggest doing some more research and learning some more about powwows and your own tribal ways before making your regalia. Maybe you should check out some sites such as powwows.com which is a very popular website for powwow pwople across Indian Country, gatheringofnations.com is another good one with lots of photos. I have never heard of a powwow that requires having a “card” but then again I am from Oklahoma and there are about 40 federaly reconized tribes here, nine in this County alone. So there a several powwows every weekend here.
I was speaking of one particular emcee. He has been emceeing for many decades. And he does ask that you wear regalia into the arena, except for the public dances. There are other emcees that don’t. And it is different here than it is in Oklahoma. We were discussing is the proper protocol for our area and what is accepted here. If you want to be welcome at a pow wow, it’s best to know the proper protocol.
We have done a lot of research about our ancestors and come up with various things that they would have worn or ways they would have dressed. Again, we live in the eastern United States and our ancestors are very different from those in Oklahoma and out west. Regalia evolves, as things are gifted to you or passed on, they can be added. We have checked out all those sites for years, and again, they are not a reflection of this area, but, more so of the west and competition. The female buckskin resemble what is here, but, the cloth do not. There are many types of cloth in this area, few are teedress, but, many adapt a cloth skirt and cloth shirt. Granted I am no expert, but, just observing what I have seen over the years.
We just visited a pow wow that asked for tribal identification. And yes, there are ones that have asked for “cards”. Again, we live in an area where many tribes are going for recognition and out of area descendants aren’t necessarily welcome. And many people in this area were mixed bloods, meaning that their ancestors may have belonged to many tribes. I had many ancestors that began in the tidewater Virginia area, along with Jamestown, but, can’t call it one particular tribe by the time they got to Person County, NC.
My husband and I have attended many pow wows, but, it is different when you become a dancer and not just the general public. We also enjoy visiting and being with the dancing/pow wow community outside the circle. May be some time you can come and attend a pow wow back east and experience it. What type dancer are you? My regalia reflects my Person county ancestors who were farmers and adapted to the white man’s ways to blend in the society. And that was crucial to their survival during removal time.
Aho
Becky
I don’t think you quite understand what I am saying. I don’t care who the emcee is, how long he has been emceeing, or where he is from….to tell someone it is required to be in regalia is WRONG. Exactly what do you mean by “public” dances?. Trust me I know all about powwow protocol. The first powwow began right here in Oklahoma with the Ponca’s helushka which is a very old ceremony of the Ponca, but it is were powwows derived from. The english meaning is “Man Dance”, over the years as powwows evolved other tribes contributed such as the Womens Northern Jingle which originates from the Ojibwe but today is very popular here in Oklahoma, and thats ok as the Ojibwe’s gave that particular dance style to the circle for other Tribes to enjoy as well. Thats the way of the powwow circle no matter where you come from.
But I would suggest doing some more research and learning some more about powwows and your own tribal ways before making your regalia.
Of course, that is good advice. I opted to not wait until I know everything, though, since that is not likely to ever happen. ;~)
You may or may not be able to tell from my picture, but I am female. So is Becky, near as I can tell. While I think there would probably be a few folks who’d LOVE for us to show up in what our ancestors wore on a typical pre-contact summer day, we would most likely be arrested.
Bear in mind that those of us whose families have lived in VA, NC, etc. for hundreds, if not thousands, of years have a different history than those from other areas. We are comparitively new to the pow-wow, but it has become an important way for us to get together and be who we are & to honor those who could not do that. For some of us, that may go back a generation or two. But I think the emcee in question may be old enough to at least remember stories about Walter Plecker & his contribution to society. I think John deserves our respect.
Elkriver, I mean no disrespect with anything that I am about to say. You speak of right and wrong but we speak of reality. Becky, Bee and I are all over 50 years old. We are not novices to the Va/Carolina powwow circuit nor native american culture in general. Becky and I have attended Va/Carolina powwows for years. Many of the dancers, singers, vendors, MCs and arena directors are among our closest friends. Please do not underestimate our level of knowledge. We have never attended a powwow in Oklahoma, therefore we would never presume to tell you how you do it there. Please show us the same respect. There are indeed powwows in Va/Carolinas where mixed bloods without tribal affiliation do not feel welcome in the circle and there are some powwows (mostly competition) where you will not be allowed to dance without a tribal card.
John Blackfeather’s reason for requiring regalia is simple. It shows a level of commitment to dancing and respecting the circle. However, if you came from Oklahoma and didn’t have your regalia with you but felt a need to enter the circle then you would be welcomed in without hesitation.
btw…… for Va/Carolinas powwows, Thundertrails and several other websites (already listed elsewhere on the Events forum) are more helpful than powwows.com or gathering of nations.
Becky, Bee and I are all over 50
Whoa, hey now, dear Brother. Let’s not rush things. I got another year left on my warranty. ;~)
beeleaf wrote: Whoa, hey now, dear Brother. Let’s not rush things. I got another year left on my warranty. ;~)
Ken stands corrected by the 49 year old kid ;-)-
I am an enrolled member of the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma. I first came across this site just the other day and noticed a few posts stating that some believe there to be Tutelo/Saponi ties to our Tribe here, and I am curious as to why some believe that. There was never any disrespect intended in any of my posts and if that was what you read into it then I am sorry for that. As some of you may already know my Tribe originated from the North Eastern part of the United States. Our traditional ways and ceremonies still exist to this day and take place at our longhouse located on our ceremonial grounds. Even though we are not powwow people traditionaly as that is a thing of the plains tribes, many of us still attend them as we were also raised around powwows because there are so many Tribes here and therefore alot of powwows take place. One of the oldest annual powwows in Oklahoma and the united states is just a 15 min. drive down the road from us. I myself have been attending powwows ever since I was a child and I have traveled to dances across the US. I was only giving advise and if that offended anyone I didn’t mean to come off that way. I am sure that there are alot of powwow sites on the net, I only suggested powwows.com because right now it is the #1 TOP powwow site…there is a HUGE discussion forum discussing many, many differant topics. There are very respected elders who hold alot of knowledge that post there….many many renouned powwow people, championship dancers who have been dancing since the day they started walking, as well as chamionship singers, and many, many others who post there…from the young to the old. There are also numerous photos and videos there, as well as live coverage of powwows. Also I was told that competition dances and such has always been a tradition, many years ago things such as horses and such was given away to the winners, as well as some even placing bets on the dances. And even still yet today in the event of a special dance contest sometimes horses are still given away, I have witnessed this a few times. As I am understanding it some of you are just now learning of your NDN ancestry, and even some are unsure of what Tribe or even if they are NDN at all. This brings me to believe that there are some of you that are also new to the powwow circuit, and I would suggest learning and researching exactly what a powwow is and how powwows came to be, and what is to be done as well as what isn’t so that you don’t desrespect anyone as you all claim to come from Tribes originating in Va/Ca and we all know that Eastern Tribes are not traditionaly powwow (tipi) NDNS. So how can there be a certain way of your people powwows that is so differant from the way we do it here when it originated here, and it is not your tradition? Non the less I do respect the fact that you all are interested in finding your NDN identities and I wish all of you much luck in following that path. The key to learning is to have an open mind and listen, I do not claim to know everything I only know what I was taught and learned from others and there is alot that I do not know. Thank you for your time. nyaweh.
Elkriver, thank you for your reply. We realize that you meant no disrespect and you offered good advice. We were just pointing out that things are different on the east coast. Yes, many who dance here would be considered wannabees by many recognized ndns. Yes, there are powwows here where things are done wrong. Many are called festivals “with a powwow-like atmosphere” You are correct that the powwow as it is presented at present was not an eastern tradition. Most of our culture has been lost therefore we must adapt some western traditions to our own needs. The powwow is a good way to gather as one people and see old friends and meet new friends.
Regarding your question about the Cayuga – eastern Siouian connection. When the Tutelo left Va/Carolina, they were adopted by the Cayuga. Search Tutelo on these forums. Much info has been amassed here about the Cayuga/Tutelo connection.
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