I hear alot of southern songs at pow-wows up here in the last year, primarily fancy dance or fancy shawl and the occasional sneak up or crow hop. I look at it the same way as my nephew described non-indians imitating indians dancing pow-wow, it is a form of flattery and praise as they are attempting to be like us because it is so beautiful.
It is the same to me about southern style songs, they are beautiful and different and it is the same as all drums singing the big drums songs, a compliment that they are looked up to, admired and enjoyed enough to try to be like the big drums. The exchange of styles is part of our culture as nothing is totally authentic, I know in many ceremonies our tribe has adopted many practices from Lakota, Blackfoot, etc as they have ours and the intermarriages, adoptions, wife stealing that went on was a part of it, our culture is dynamic , it is not stagnant and it changes slightly to accommodate the needs of its people, spirituality is not as dynamic as it has a different intent but that is still different today from pre-contact. In my life at this time I try to look for positives and strengths as that is what heals me and gives me power to live as Creator intended, happy, loving, compassionate and honest....which are some of the important principles and values all Indian cultures have as their foundation.
A few years ago I knew nothing of Southern style, now I truly enjoy hearing the songs as I said they are beautiful to listen to and to dance too and they can be very challenging as well because of the different style.
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