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here is an example of a “Eastern” powwow held in Washington DC sponsered by the National Museam of the American Indian, the video is of a southern style powwow drum group that comes from Oklahoma. Here is link with a little known history of the Pee Dee.
http://www.peedeeindiantribeofsc.com/id25.html
Little is known about this Sioun group, but many of the families that later became known as Melungeons ( and other similar groups) came from this region. They had relations with the Cheraw and the Catawaba. It seems like the Cheraw they suffered the same fate as many of the Sioun tribes.:mad:
ops…this was supposed to go on there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_vc598zbP4&mode=related&search=
Melungeon, thank you for the Pee Dee links. They so appropriately bring the significance of this celebration to light. I have been suprised and delighted learning of the great numbers of Indians living in the east. There is no denying their visible heritage. Such a terrible injustice to be told by the government that some people are Indian and you are not. Another subject to think deeply upon.
Elkriver, I’ll have to go down to Campus soon and check out all of your personal Utube selections. Thank you both again.
[Techteach, I got confused, I thought you were planning to go back this summer.]
Linda,
I’ve found a lot of pictures online of VA powwows with Indian women wearing the over the shoulder “Pocohontas dress”. I don’t know if all the VA tribes are doing this, but I assume both the Powhatans and eastern Siouans would have dressed this way.
I recently picked up a reproduction of a book with all the engravings of the John White drawings. I found most people with the over the shoulder dress were men, I found only one drawing of a woman with that dress, plus one of a woman with a full top, the rest were topless.
California Indians traditionaly went topless, wore a shell skirt, and shell necklaces. To get around that at powwows I have seen women wear what looks like a leather strapless bra around the chest, then their skirt and shell necklaces. It gives the illusion of toplessness yet keeps it legal. I don’t know if any Virginia Indian women have tried that, its hot enough in the summer for it!
I also saw a California woman actually go topless with LOTS of shell necklaces. She had to keep rearranging them. I wouldn’t go that far.
I have seen women wear what looks like a leather strapless bra around the chest
Oh boy, that would not go over down here. People are so insecure about looking inappropriate, they swelter in long sleeves no matter what. I’ve been frowned upon for wearing short sleeves in August. Good god, if a woman appeared in a leather bra! The Pamunkey do wear the over-the-shoulder leather dress, and some criticize them for that, but they hold their own. Of course, even that is just a style for a young woman, (or older if in exceptionally good shape). Even with a young woman, if she were too voluptuously endowed I’m sure people would pitch a fit.
I don’t know how to put pictures on this site, but heres a link that has some pictures of some California Indian women going “topless”- a sports bra with lots of shell necklaces. So that wouldn’t do well even among other natives in VA and NC?
Its the first and 5th pictures on the link
http://sorrel.humboldt.edu/~rwj1/yur.html
I think that looks very nice. Something like that might work in a demonstration, where the context was obvious.
By special I meant any other than the one’s invited by the MC for the public to join, such as the Jingle Dress, Women’s and Men’s Traditional, Grass Dance, Men’s Fancy Dance etc.
OIC. It would seem that we may have been saying the same thing, but with different words, from the beginning. Those with more eastern pow-wow experience can correct me if I’m wrong, but from what I’ve seen the aforementioned regalia requirement is for these same “special dances”. People dance in whatever they want for the general public invited dances. (Becky and I were talking about women’s traditional cloth dancing.)
I enjoy reading & hearing about traditions. I would be one who would like having a process to go through before joining the dance, etc. To me , asking permission leads to knowing whether I have it or not. It can fill a need. But, if having an elder shake my hand and welcome me to the circle is enough, I think I need to respectfully accept that.
Meanwhile, want to mention a couple of books this thread reminds me about. One was mentioned in an old thread here, so I hunted it down. Forgive the title! It is called “Encyclopedia of American Indian Costume” by Josephine Paterek.
I believe Native Tech may also have some drawings of what we wore at various times, as well.
The other book I just came across recently. I was fascinated by it because the aforementioned MC is interviewed & talks some about the history of the SE powwow. The title is simply “Powwow”, by Clyde Ellis; Luke Eric Lassiter; Gary H. Dunham. Bought a used copy and will be happy to share what I learn when it arrives.
Wado ale
Pilahuc
Bee
It is good to know of widespread traditions.
Thanks for the book recommendations, Bee. I actually found the ‘POW WOW’ at Google Books, (I think it was), recently. It had quite a bit on Southeastern Pow Wow included in the preview. It echoed what you guys share here.
I enjoyed reading the eastern dance sites after Elkriver’s lead. The dances are much different there than here. They seem more interactive and less a matter of individual showmanship. It seems fun. No wonder you’re all so busy all summer.
What does ‘Wado Ale’ mean, and what language is it?
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