bdn_ndn_grl

I guess I'm just looking for your opinion. My daughter is 4 now and has been pow wowing since she was 3 days old. But she has grown out of both of her fancy and jingle dresses so I need to make her new dresses. Oh by the way she likes to change styles during the pow wow so I keep the designs on the fancy and jingle the same so I don't have to bead two sets of leggings, mocs and hair stuff right now that she will grow out of. She now wants to dance traditional like a HoChunk friend of ours. We are Ojibwe and the dance styles are obviously different. Her new beadwork is contemporary. My question is would it be ok to make her a more contemporary style dress with the applique or stick with the traditional floral dress and traditional beadowrk?

mutnik

I'm not sure I completely understand your question, or what you have in mind for contemporary, but if you are asking whether you have to make a whole new set with floral designs for your little girl's beadwork and whatnot, surely the answer is no. Although ojib beadwork has some of the prettiest floral designs, which are beautiful for every style of dancing, other designs are certainly used too. Even if you were to look at some of the old photos that are floating around, you'd see a variety.
As you mentioned, your daughter is likely to grow out of stuff fast anyhow. And who knows if she'll like tradish. I wouldn't worry too much about whether her outfit is exactly so. It's just great she enjoys dancing, and you support her.
Well, those are just my thoughts. Maybe someone else will have something different to say.
Good luck with whatever you decide!