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Shawl Lady · 07-03-2003, 11:04 AM

I know what you say is true, PB49, as I was taught by Kiowas in Okla and Arkansas about Gourd Dancing. There it was treated as no big deal and pretty much ignored by the spectators and other dancers.

Here in California, it is taken seriously. I dunno if times have changed or what. I was so impressed at the big Stanford Pow Wow at Palo Alto in May. There were several Gourd Dance Societies present and some well known vets and elders joined them in the Gourd Dancing and honoring songs. They honored the Navajo Code Talker, Joe Morris, and they had a special honoring for Lori Piestewa, the young Hopi Army private who was killed in Iraq. That really touched me. She was honored as a fallen warrior in a traditional way.

The MC had asked that no photos be taken during the Gourd Dancing and stated that this is a sacred ceremony. The Gourd Dancers consider their role to be both that of the welcomers, but also as the ones who bless the dance circle and call to Mother Earth, Father Sky, and Grandfather Sun to bless the circle with their presence.

There have been few women who danced in the circle or behind the men Gourd Dancers at these California pow wows during honoring songs. Very few Kiowa War Mothers out here, I guess.

You are quite right when you say the Kiowa Gourd Clan is the oldest. It is my understanding that, like the Black Leggings, this was a warrior society and one only had to be a man and invited to join. In recent times, the gourd dance societies have usually required that members be vets or served in some kind of warrior role.

Last year, there was a huge controversy when some women vets dressed out as male gourd dancers and got right in line with the men at some southern pow wows. The male members were incensed and some walked out. The mistake the women made was in not asking about their actions first and finding out how to be properly invited into the Gourd Dance, and what is proper behavior for them. Gourd dance societies have always been all-male and the men took it as an affront and stopped the drum. If you know any Kiowa Gourd Dancers, you understand what I am saying here.

I would like to hear what's going on with Gourd Dance societies around the country. How many have women members or women's auxilliary groups, such as War Mothers? How does a woman join such a group?

I am one of many women who enjoy gourd dancing and want to support and participate in the proper way with the Gourd Dancers.

07-03-2003, 11:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
Shawl Lady Tiny Tot Dancer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Oregon river valley among forests and mountains Posts: 68	Gourd Dancing I know what you say is true, PB49, as I was taught by Kiowas in Okla and Arkansas about Gourd Dancing. There it was treated as no big deal and pretty much ignored by the spectators and other dancers. Here in California, it is taken seriously. I dunno if times have changed or what. I was so impressed at the big Stanford Pow Wow at Palo Alto in May. There were several Gourd Dance Societies present and some well known vets and elders joined them in the Gourd Dancing and honoring songs. They honored the Navajo Code Talker, Joe Morris, and they had a special honoring for Lori Piestewa, the young Hopi Army private who was killed in Iraq. That really touched me. She was honored as a fallen warrior in a traditional way. The MC had asked that no photos be taken during the Gourd Dancing and stated that this is a sacred ceremony. The Gourd Dancers consider their role to be both that of the welcomers, but also as the ones who bless the dance circle and call to Mother Earth, Father Sky, and Grandfather Sun to bless the circle with their presence. There have been few women who danced in the circle or behind the men Gourd Dancers at these California pow wows during honoring songs. Very few Kiowa War Mothers out here, I guess. You are quite right when you say the Kiowa Gourd Clan is the oldest. It is my understanding that, like the Black Leggings, this was a warrior society and one only had to be a man and invited to join. In recent times, the gourd dance societies have usually required that members be vets or served in some kind of warrior role. Last year, there was a huge controversy when some women vets dressed out as male gourd dancers and got right in line with the men at some southern pow wows. The male members were incensed and some walked out. The mistake the women made was in not asking about their actions first and finding out how to be properly invited into the Gourd Dance, and what is proper behavior for them. Gourd dance societies have always been all-male and the men took it as an affront and stopped the drum. If you know any Kiowa Gourd Dancers, you understand what I am saying here. I would like to hear what's going on with Gourd Dance societies around the country. How many have women members or women's auxilliary groups, such as War Mothers? How does a woman join such a group? I am one of many women who enjoy gourd dancing and want to support and participate in the proper way with the Gourd Dancers. __________________ Shawl Lady