mirror board

ndnsooner · 05-15-2008, 02:50 PM

Does anyone know the purpose of chicken dancers using a mirror board? What is the story behind it?

soopashinaab · 05-15-2008, 04:21 PM

I think it has something to do with a signal board, I had heard before that Plains NDNs used mirrors to signal one another for various reasons.

I could be wrong.

**spottedeagle** · 05-15-2008, 06:45 PM

Well you know how them male prairie chiggens are all the time struttin and tryin to look good and show off for the lady chiggens. The ones that are rule the flock get pretty cocky and sometimes a little vain.

Same thing happens with chiggen dancers, so they need that mirror board to check themselves out, make sure their roach is on straight, their braids are nice and tight.....

At least that is what I was told......

debbieyd · 05-15-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndnsooner

Does anyone know the purpose of chicken dancers using a mirror board? What is the story behind it?

From what I know, mirrors are used for ill feelings or other wise known as jealousy; for bad thoughts to mirror back to the one who has them! It's like a protective shield.

sookout sh'nob · 05-16-2008, 09:53 AM

Mirrors, like bells, were also a status symbol in many areas - the further away from the fur trade action you were, the harder mirrors were to come by. I heard a story about being on the lookout for hawks once, which I liked.

Not trying to kill the thread at all here, but you can check this post out for a lengthy discussion about mirror boards in grass and prairie chicken dancing. The above mentioned hawk reference is repeated by someone else in there too.

There are a few posts about mirror boards in the Straight dance category too, but nothing that I haven't seen discussed already.

ndnsooner · 05-29-2008, 03:50 PM

I've read the other stories regarding straight dancers and just wondering if there was anything different as far as chicken dancers go. I've heard a couple of stores about why chicken dancers used a mirror board.

redthunder · 05-29-2008, 07:30 PM

When the mirror was first introduced to the plains tribes, they
marvelled at the likeness it produced through reflection.

It instantly gained value.

Once it was discovered that the mirror could be used to communicate by
using the sun's reflection from one location - a great distance from
another, the mirror gained even more value.

The mirror was therefore highly valued by the plains warrior as a
status symbol. It was therefore used as a functional instrument to
communicate during times of war.

The chicken dance is originally a society warriors dance.

05-15-2008, 02:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
ndnsooner Senior Dancer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 674	mirror board Does anyone know the purpose of chicken dancers using a mirror board? What is the story behind it?

05-15-2008, 04:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
soopashinaab Teepee Creepin near you Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Waaswaaganing Indizhaa Posts: 4,002	I think it has something to do with a signal board, I had heard before that Plains NDNs used mirrors to signal one another for various reasons. I could be wrong. __________________ I didn't do it... whatever it was

05-15-2008, 06:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
spottedeagle The NDN Hugh Heffner Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Soaring over you Posts: 4,287	Well you know how them male prairie chiggens are all the time struttin and tryin to look good and show off for the lady chiggens. The ones that are rule the flock get pretty cocky and sometimes a little vain. Same thing happens with chiggen dancers, so they need that mirror board to check themselves out, make sure their roach is on straight, their braids are nice and tight..... At least that is what I was told...... __________________ The things you are doing today are the traditions of twenty-five years from now. -Daryl Baldwin: Miami

05-29-2008, 07:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
redthunder Powwow King Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 484	When the mirror was first introduced to the plains tribes, they marvelled at the likeness it produced through reflection. It instantly gained value. Once it was discovered that the mirror could be used to communicate by using the sun's reflection from one location - a great distance from another, the mirror gained even more value. The mirror was therefore highly valued by the plains warrior as a status symbol. It was therefore used as a functional instrument to communicate during times of war. The chicken dance is originally a society warriors dance. __________________ I'm interested more in self determination than gender equity. In other words, changing white men for white woman in the structures of power, does nothing to transform the opression in my community. "You need to find yourself a girl, mate... Or, perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You're not a eunuch, are you? [looks down]" -Captain Jack Sparrow

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05-16-2008, 09:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
sookout sh'nob Boogie Monster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 511	Mirrors, like bells, were also a status symbol in many areas - the further away from the fur trade action you were, the harder mirrors were to come by. I heard a story about being on the lookout for hawks once, which I liked. Not trying to kill the thread at all here, but you can check this post out for a lengthy discussion about mirror boards in grass and prairie chicken dancing. The above mentioned hawk reference is repeated by someone else in there too. There are a few posts about mirror boards in the Straight dance category too, but nothing that I haven't seen discussed already.

05-29-2008, 03:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
ndnsooner Senior Dancer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 674	I've read the other stories regarding straight dancers and just wondering if there was anything different as far as chicken dancers go. I've heard a couple of stores about why chicken dancers used a mirror board.

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