Barb

I was wandering what you ladies who dance Cloth in Canada think of having our own catagory at Pow wows? I find when we dance with the Ladies waring Buckskin we don't seem to have much of a chance. Maybe I'm wrong, just the way I see it. Look farword to any comments.

superndngyrl

Thats everywhere. There seems to be this unspoken rule that if a buckskin enters the traditional category, then she'll place higher than the cloth dancers. Of course there's always exceptions to this rule but mostly this rule prevails.
It would be nice for a pow-wow to always separate the cloth and buckskin, northern and southern but I guess some pow-wows can't afford the extra categories.

chazziff

hmmm .. this a good question .. lol. would be nice but the women's northern style trad category in canada, the regalia is considered a fully beaded cape and a buckskin skirt.

in the states .. there are tribes that dont "use" buckskin dresses .. traditionally. which in turn necessitates the need for the division of the women's trad categories. for example .. a comanche style buckskin dress vs an osage style of cloth dress ..

canada .. not so much. sure there are tribes here that use for example cloth dresses .. like the velvet shoulder capes and matching skirts with beaded applique work on them. which is makin somewhat of a comeback .. with ladies old style fancy.

but most of the time .. i've noticed that the so called canadian cloth dancers are dancers who .. for what ever reason (financially cant afford, dont know how to bead, etc. etc.) dont have a fully beaded cape. and in turn use a cloth applique cape and skirt ..

so i wouldnt see it happening anytime soon ...

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Barb

I was curious what others thought. I have seen some posters for Pow wows in the U.S. where they do. I dance in central Alberta mostly, I have only been dancing for about 5yrs. However I have whatched for awhile. I was wandering if anything could be done about the situation. I thought of writing to some of the Bands and see what happens.

Barb

We actually do have more Ladies wearing cloth dresses every year. Even some of the older Ladies change to cloth sometimes. There are a few who have bothe and just change back and forth. The cloth dresses up here are a little different from some in the U.S. they are generally a one piece dress sometimes they have ribbons and other embelishments but they are very different from the beaded capes the buckskin dancers wear. They are more traditional and not as elabourite as the beaded buckskin outfits.

chazziff

^^^ these are commonly referred to "day" dresses .. plain t style dresses some with cloth applique designs on the front and sleeves and ribbons. ladies wear them during the day .. when its too hot to wear their buckskins.

i dont think you understand the point im trying to make .. you will probably not see a cloth category in canada any time soon. unless of course you host a pow wow on your own and make one .. or host a special for cloth dress dancers only .. no buckskin or beaded capes alllowed.

no canadian pow wow committee is going to seperate the women's northern traditional category into two groups .. one for beaded capes and one for cloth capes. just not going to happen.

my daughter dances southern traditional .. she is an enrolled member of the kiowa tribe of oklahoma and we live in saskatchewan. talk about a looking like a fish out of water with all the other northern traditional regalia in her category. she danced in cloth dresses until recently when was gifted her first southern style buckskin a couple of weeks ago by her grandmother and aunt. and she will also be using kiowa style t dresses with the fringed aprons (not sure of the correct name for these aprons) during the day or when she doesnt feel like wearin her buckskin ..

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superndngyrl

near Toronto and ottawa, i seen a lot of cloth dancers. Some were dancing southern traditional style and others were dancing northern, regardless, i could see how its an issue.

tiBBy

yeh...you see more and more cloth dancers..but yeah up north...buckskin is the style of dress and are passed down thru families...families work on a dress for the young lady together puting in time and effort...but yeah in cloth dresses would be mostly little girls..i dont think u will see a cloth category change in canada any time soon..notibly western/central canada

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Barb

Just voicing my frustrations. I know how much time, work and love some of the Ladies who wear cloth put into their outfits me included. I wear what is classed as a plains dress with white, yellow and blue ribbon trim with silver and black dragonflies. I am learning to dance southern traditional. I have met quite a few Ladies over the last few years that did not even make their own bukcskin they had them made. I am very happy for your Daughter, she must be very proud.

chazziff

she is very proud of it .. and she wants to dance ALL the time now lol.

i understand your probable frustration goin against all the buckskin dresses .. most judges dont even look at the majority of dancers with cloth dresses.

not sure if this is really fair either .. ive seen alot of buckskin dancers .. go off beat or dont dance very "smoothly" and "elegantly" and still placed above a cloth dancer who dances very well ..

maybe you might rethink why you are dancing .. is it strictly to place? or are you out there because you want to be .. to dance for those who cant? or maybe start making your own beaded cape .. only a suggestion

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Barb

I understand her wanting to dance all the time. Since I started dancing I dance every chance I get. No I don't dance to place probably a good thing, not that I haven't placed a couple of times. When I dance I find it very spiritual and healing. I am ever mindful of those who can not dance with us. Such is a friend who is no longer with us who led me to the circle. Yes I know there are alot who just dance for the money now. For the most part I actually prefer traditional Pow wows to contest. I feel sad for some of the others when I see them at every Grand Entry and dancing every intertribal when others don't. To see the look of disapointment on there faces when you know they could use the money. As for making a buckskin I don't feel that is where I belong, not at this time anyway. I am quite happy with my cloth dresses.

buckskin pantyhose

i think as powwows evolve & dancers continue to "explore" various dance categories, there will eventually be some conformity with the categories. I'm a northern "cloth" dancer & love the fact that we are given our own category! Regardless of the region, if organizations want their powwows to draw in dancers & become a "must go to" powwow on the circuit....they'll eventually have to cater to the dancers.

Like super said, if a beaded top is in a buckskin/cloth combined category chances are a beaded top is going to place 1st if not in the top 2....i hope that we can begin to get away from this "norm". But right now, it just makes us cloth dancers dance harder to place.

(my comments are regarding contest powwows)

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