Little White Dove

I've finally got the encouragement(from friends not family) to finally really start learning Southern Cloth Dance and have called and talked to people from Cherokee Nation and told to do what I feel is right and another person from the Heritage Center there said same thing but had alot more info and finally told me to let him know how it goes. I spoke with a gentlemen from Red Earth and was told that if wanted to I could sign up as a dancer and come all 3 days and watch and join in at Intertribal Dances, I would get a competition # but didn't have to compete just wear street clothes(don't have Regalia cause have no idea how to make or colors can use), and he said I have to have shawl and I do(it is black with tan fringe and wanting to put a white "Dove" in middle, can my regalia have kinda same colors or Dove theme?) and then watch dance to get better look of how dance is done and maybe ask a dancer a question or two than videos that I have been watching over and over(favorite and most helpful right now is MEN'S & WOMEN'S DANCE STYLES, but it's library's so have to give it up SOON). My question to anyone who reads this or is going to Red Earth is, is that ok or would that be a problem or ? I 33 and feel that finally getting courage to finally learn is too late and to go and not know what to do or where to go would be/is scary. I also want to ask if I wanted to try to do Southern Shawl Dance can I go out in my street clothes and try or no cause I know to go out on the floor I have to have shawl around my shoulders but to dance it has to be on my left arm and fan in my right. Thanks and no matter what will be at Red Earth either down watching and in corner trying new steps(like how to keep shawl from not slipping our from elbow) or up in stands watching. I also wanted to ask if anyone knew if had to have CDIB to be able to wear Regalia? Guy told my from Red Earth that don't need to dance but forgot to ask if needed to be able to wear shawl, asking cause in research to get CDIB my G-Grandmother family is nowhere on rolls and cencus says they counted themselves as White and my mothers family who are suppose to be full blood Cherokee I can't find anything so also big question of being OK to join in and finally feeling some ease of Do or Don't do. Sorry this is long.

eap7

Hi there, I see you're pretty new to powwows.com so welcome! I would say that for any powwow, any person regardless of their race or background is welcome to dance the intertribal songs. That's what they are for, so everyone can get out there, dance and enjoy themselves. If you wear a shawl at Red Earth and dance intertribals, that would be fine. Hope you have a good time!

Traditonal Lady

That sounds great! You may want to look at the thread that has tips for beginners, it has helpful pointers.

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Walk softly on Mother Earth

tcumonster

Good luck with everything. In regards to Red Earth...a friend of mine and I went several years ago just to dance the intertribals. This was in the day when they had an evening of intertribals after the big show in the evenings. Although he and I were just starting out, we had a great time dancing with some outstanding dancers and hearing some amazing songs. I will never forget coming into that arena for the first time. I would encourage you to go and have a good time.

As for the shawl questions...afraid I can't help you out much. Don't normally see a guy dancing in a shawl.

Little White Dove

Thank You so much for your replies , it helped so much and eased some nerves, I'll go ahead and sign up and take advantage of the 3 days of knowledge and fun of intertribal dances and invite friends that have encouraged me to go forward and see about finally learning about/how to dancing Southern Shawl vs. just talking about it as I have always done. I know from going past years and just sitting up in the stands that Red Earth is very beautiful and also educational and hope that they walk away with that as well. Now have to finish my shawl(put Dove design on). Thanks for the welcome to this site and love this site cause you guys are so friendly and helpful so visiting as often as can. See ya in June or sooner if find close enough Pow Wow can go to. I'll look about Regalia but worry about making later cause I know it takes time to put together and to gather all materials needed.

KoolNDN

LWD - for additional answers you might want to ask "Running Bare"

Little White Dove

[quote=KoolNDN;888518]LWD - for additional answers you might want to ask "Running Bare" [/QUOTE


Thanks didn't know if anyone knew song & was gonna say something but, Na! My dad(Real Native name IS Running Bear & mine told totally for cherokee tribe but I think 1/2 joke to me & 1/2 tribal is Little White Dove) but, he says doesn't know anything or I think just doesn't want to tell anything about our heritage especially about How Women Dance. And never ask anything while he's watching DOG the Bounty Hunter As far as asking Running Bare; only if I can like this

KoolNDN

[quote=Little White Dove;890044]I'm glad you into Native Humor - Kool, hope you find the answers you seek my native sista!

Little White Dove

I will join in on Intertribal dances because I don't have a CDIB(trust me I've searched(fathers side) even with all the family stories and fact that my mother was full Cherokee, I'm )But I will always take pride in my heritage and attend as many PowWows as possible. So good luck to all of you can't wait till June 1st. I do have a question for anyone or ones, can I continue wearing my shawls around my shoulders or since can't prove I'm NDN stop wearing them at Intertribal and just go down in street clothes? Thanks everyone for previous help when I wanted to dance(still do but on back burner or will just enjoy the beauty of others)

NCheyGirl21

I'm glad your finding your answers. You should be proud of your heritage. You can always find traditional pow wows to go too. I'm sure you'd be able to find somebody to make you an outfit. If you go in the trading post section there is always stuff for sale. I also think you can continue to wear your shawl, just because you can't prove your ndn doesn't mean you are.

superndngyrl

Since you're in Oklahoma City, there's tons of other pow-wows to go to. In July, there's Indian Hills. If you want to travel a little ways there's always something about an houra way.

Little White Dove

Thanks, I will continue to wear my shawls and will continue to take pride in my heritage and continue going to as many Pow Wows as I can get to(or my car will let get to ). I did not know about the one in July, I'll try to look up some info on it and try to make it and see about others this summer. I love this site you guys have more knowledge than ALOT of the people I have written and called over at least this past year doing my research on my Father and Mother. Some people have I spoken with have had me hang up the phone and or .