CHEROSAGE

I'm not tracking, can't follow that chain of thought. If there was one. Sorry, can't help withthis one.

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BOB

kiyaanii mom

Maybe there are some women mc's and ad's, but I haven't seen or heard any yet. I don't think it is going to take off enough that a woman mc or ad will common.

There are just too many people (maybe elders) who would say it isn't appropriate in some parts of Indian Country.

AND........

I just can't imagine a Woman M.C. telling jokes like teh ones Russel Standingrock tells. LOL

Two-cents1

I even tried breaking her sentences down into segments to see if I could decipher any meaning.....no luck.....and gave myself a headache.

Anyhoo, does anyone remember when Hinckley first had their 1st Grand Casino powwow, oh around 1992 (give or take a year)? They had women arena directors for the first couple of years. I remember Linda Standing being an AD one year, and Duanna LaPlante being an AD another year.

For my tribe, we have men in those roles, but I know that the tribes around the Great Lakes are matriarchal so women do quite a bit. Never heard a female MC though in that area. I myself can't criticize an area for how they do things because I don't know their ways or why they do like they do.

As for the one female MC that I've heard, I wish she would quit. Not cuz I'm uncomfortable with a woman MC, it's just that she's not funny at all.

mountaindew

I thought Beulah Sunrise emceed one year at the Gathering of Nations. Now she just does the Miss Indian World. Also, Red Earth always lists a couple of ladies as Assistant AD's but don't know if they actually do anything in the arena. And I know that Martha Koomsa Perez is always emceeing at the Kiowa doings as well as some of the other tribes' powwows in that area along with Hammond Motah. Don't know when she began emceeing.

Coyot_In_The_House

Who Me usually comes up with some interesting topics.....

I'd say Women are capable of these two responsibilities....However i've not yet experienced it or heard positive feedback on it? Matrilineal Tribes may accept this, but many of the Patrilineal ones may object? It's important to note that the original styles that have evolved into the Contemporary Powwow come from Patrilineal Tribes and responsibilities and roles have been defined in that way since most can remember....

It's important to remain open minded, but there are reasons for why we follow and respect particular ways. I don't really think I have to elaborate on that (at least I hope not).

I know of individuals who earned the rite to do something and I know of people who have not. I'm not establishing that as a parameter, but I think it's important for us to recognize and respect the ways passed to us. As I walk on eggshells here....I'll stay tuned.....

dad

whats next?? woman whistle carrier???

WhoMe

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Dear dad (dang that sounds stangely funny *L I don't even know you . . . dad?) *LOL ,


Who knows what lies ahead in the powwow arena?

I have seen a woman place her fan on the drum and when she lifted it up, it caused the drum to sing four more times.

I have also seen a woman pick up a feather for another woman in the dance arena.

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

badmaninc

I was at a powwow once where an elder woman from Alberta used a whistle on a drum. A fairly well known woman too. She was a champion traditional dancer. Another well known MC from the same community was involved with her. This man talked after and explained that the reason why he had this woman blow on the drum was that many men had blown the whistle on the drums that weekend and only the men had been dancing. This was in the early 1990's when it seemed like everybody was blowing whistles. I understood why this man did what he did, however I was never sure how I felt about it. I don't think it matters anyway, I am not a well known person so what I believe doesn't really have any importance. Not trying to be self-deprecating, just mean that I don't know all of the teachings.

ndnMSW

Red Earth used to have "Arena Assistants" who helped out with the contest ballots and took numbers, but they weren't Assistant AD's. But this year they will have a woman for their Northern Arena Director, Stephanie Charging Eagle. What are your thoughts on that Whome?

WhoMe

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ndnM,

My first inclination would be ... I don't know. I don't go! *L

I just got off the phone with the new Powwow director for R.Earth and we did discuss this year's powwow. He didn't mention the arena directors, so I'm sure he didn't have nada problemo with it.

I don't know Stephanie personally, but I know the Charging Eagle family is well respected in the powwow world.
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Red Earth is well known for innovations in their powwow. Last year the dancers grand entryed to rock music, through a cloud of smoke. Some people thought it was "kewl." Others didn't. (I was told by their exEx.Dir.- as to how I received this information).

I see a woman arena director in a state where there are no women arena directors as another Red Earth innovation. And again there will be some people that think it is "kewl" and others who will dissapprove.

Like I said, I don't attend.....

__________________
"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

Panther11Gurl

I haven't seen anything other than an whipwoman.... but I don't see why a woman can't do what a man can