Osage_jingle

i was told i can only do northern or southern but i can't dance both, I come from both tribes (Osage and Blackfoot) so technically i don't need any type of permission. so is this true that I have to choose? If it is I'm not sure which one to dance. I'm debating because I like both styles.

WocusWoman

You don't have to choose, unless you are at a contest powwow and they are divided up, for example Northern Cloth or Southern Cloth. From my area in Oregon, they combine the buckskin and cloth into one category, "traditional." I don't see why you cannot honor both your tribes in your regalia.

superndngyrl

Make both outfits. Then once you dance in both a couple of times or so then make you decision about what you'd like to do.

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The only time its too late to start dancing is when you're dead.

Czechy

If you have the ability or the means to acquire/make two different outfits, then go ahead and dance both. You may need different sets of beaded items and different moccasins/boots for each style so this proposition can get costly. You could make or get a fairly simple cloth T-dress to wear with both regalias until you choose a style or make a second dress. I don't think people will care too much if you dance both styles. Just don't do it on the same weekend, lol!

timmy tiger

First of all, I would have to ask you who told you this? Was it an Elder or someone from your Nation? Were they credible--do they know alot about either one or both?

I agree with the others. Try both and see which one you like or feels more comfortable to you.

The only thing that I have ever heard is like the one who stated above. When you contest. If you go to a powwow to contest for the weekend, then you stay with the style that you signed up for. I was at a pow wow where a woman wanted to dance both Fancy Shawl and Traditional and she wore the same outfit. The arena director caught it and stopped it right away. She had been told by someone else that she could do that. For the most part, they don't allow it. But I have seen some that do allow it, so you would just have to ask the Arena director if he does.

But I have seen many woman who were one outfit for the first half of the day and a different one for the second half of the day and it's fine. As long as they are both similar. For example, if you wear cloth for the first half and contest and then wear buckskin for the second half. Well, again--I have seen this, but not all that often. If you make them both cloth or both buckskin, I don't see a problem.

Pvt Butter

my mom told me that in the 1970's my great aunt would get jiggy in her buckskin. She'd throw a shawl on her shoulders and crow hop. It was common and before "fancy shawl" category was created. I'm sure if she was still alive and dressed in her finest she would kick up her heals if she felt like it. I wouldn't want to be the areana director trying to chase her off because she was wearing her traditional clothes.