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Growing Interest in Gourd Dance
I believe there is growing interest and prestige in Gourd Dancing. More people at pow wows are giving the Gourd Dancers the honor, respect and attention they deserve. The veterans and warriors who are members of gourd dance societies have earned the right to sing their songs, dance, and make the dance circle sacred. They perform a service and they should be viewed as people to be honored, supported, respected.
More attention should be paid by pow wow organizers and staff to keeping the tourists from taking photographs of Gourd Dancers. The general public has to be told that the songs and dances they are watching are sacred and that the ground upon which the pow wow dancers will dance is being blessed, and that dancing in the circle is a spiritual, healing activity, not entertainment.
All who enter the dance arena must be taught the proper etiquette and meaning of each part of the pow wow, that women who are not dressed out in regalia must wear long skirts and wear dance shawls to show respect for the sacred circle.
I realize that we must do outreach efforts to welcome in the newcomers and tourists in order to have them learn and experience the pow wow in a good way. More effort should be given to teaching the etiquette too.
I hate seeing women and girls walking around the circle in shorts, tank tops and sandals, no shawls, and kids running this way and that. This is disturbing to me because the circle is just as sacred as a church sanctuary. I don't do it and I always bring an extra shawl to share with a friend who forgot hers.
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Shawl Lady
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