Raising an eagle fan

WhoMe · 12-14-2004, 01:01 PM

There are many interpretations for why jingle dress dancers raise their eagle fans when they dance.

I have a question?

How long should a jingle dress dancer keep their fan raised?

When the jingle dress dance was first gaining popularity across Indian country, jingle dress dancers were taking their cues from Anishinabe women on how long and, when to raise their fans.

Now it seems many dancers are dancing with their fans raised for the majority of the contest song.

Is this a trend, fad or someones interpretation of gaining more points in competition? The reason I say more points in a competition is, because dancers don't normally raise their fans during every intertribal. The raising of fans occurs mostly during competition.

Some women shake their fans to the beat of the drum and others pivot their fans right-to-left.

Should an eagle fan be raised at the end of a song?

Are there rules to raising an eagle fan?

olestylin_chicken · 12-15-2004, 12:51 PM

i was taught that you could only raise your fan for a sick person and only old ppl could raise their fans

Anishinaabe_Kwezanz · 12-16-2004, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMe

Is this a trend, fad or someones interpretation of gaining more points in competition? The reason I say more points in a competition is, because dancers don't normally raise their fans during every intertribal. The raising of fans occurs mostly during competition.

If I am doing my jingle steps during an intertribal I raise my fan. But I only hold it during the actual honor beats once they're done I put it down.

But if I am competing I'll leave it up till the next lead of the song.

Sometimes I'll forget what I am doing and leave it up longer.

sookout sh'nob · 12-18-2004, 10:48 AM

Here's how i know fans.

Those fans have a certain spirit living there inside of them, for sure an eagle, probably a thunderbird too. They say that when someon raises that fan, it is because that spirit has directed them to do so. It's not because someone else told them to or made a rule up, it's because it is a good thing to do. Because that spirit moves them to do so. Same way with the eagle whistle or fanning the drum. No one has to be sick or dying, you can do it because someone is felling well too. That's how us bush indians do it up there in the bush.

Noopiming, ezhichige ezhichigeyaang!
mii awe miigwech.

**ojibwaysweetie** · 12-20-2004, 09:58 PM

In that concrete bush!

:p

lol*

**ojibwaysweetie** · 12-20-2004, 10:02 PM

There are no rules as per se.
Many Ogitchida Ikwes dont even raise their feather or fan.
I do think many just do what they feel at that time of the honour beats.
But I love to saa saa kwe with my fellow jinglers! Its fun!

*hoops*

:D

side_step_n_beauty · 01-03-2005, 02:45 PM

From what I was taught...If you raise your 'eagle' fan above your head, your bringing chaos into your head. So I usually never raise my fan when I dance, just my hand when side step'n

beefy_cheefy · 01-14-2005, 02:56 AM

When my grandafather gave us the right to use a fan he said that one of the reasons for using feathers is to honor that bird for its life and ask for the blessings of all peeps, and that thru our dancing the eagle is once again able to fly. if you dont put use to your fan whether in ceremonies or dancing than it is not meant for you and it will leave,but thats what i was told so i have my granmothers feathers, and i think everyone should do things the way they are taught and the way that their people have done things. Fan or no fan is up to the way a person is raised and how they feel. so its up to you how long you want to raise it.

**WocusWoman** · 01-14-2005, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sookout sh'nob

Here's how i know fans.

Those fans have a certain spirit living there inside of them, for sure an eagle, probably a thunderbird too. They say that when someon raises that fan, it is because that spirit has directed them to do so. It's not because someone else told them to or made a rule up, it's because it is a good thing to do. Because that spirit moves them to do so. Same way with the eagle whistle or fanning the drum. No one has to be sick or dying, you can do it because someone is felling well too. That's how us bush indians do it up there in the bush.

Noopiming, ezhichige ezhichigeyaang!
mii awe miigwech.

I'm a traditional woman's buckskin dancer who grew up in Oregon; this is pretty much what my granny taught me too.

**ojibwaysweetie** · 01-28-2005, 12:08 AM

Yep, do what you feel is right with your feather or fan at the time of the honour beats.

Thats all.

WhoMe · 01-28-2005, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powwow_lovers

When my grandafather gave us the right to use a fan he said .....ask for the blessings of all peeps.....

__

powwow_,

Did your grandfather REALLY say that?

**Kiwehnzii** · 01-28-2005, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMe

__

powwow_,

Did your grandfather REALLY say that?

Sounds like a pretty cool gramps.

~danielle~ · 01-28-2005, 03:25 PM

That's funny.

rachelg196 · 02-16-2005, 03:46 PM

I was taught to raise my fan on honor beats.

b_b_jinglin · 03-09-2005, 02:17 PM

yea me too,on all honor beatz.......thatz my way as well.............

12-14-2004, 01:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,555	Raising an eagle fan There are many interpretations for why jingle dress dancers raise their eagle fans when they dance. I have a question? How long should a jingle dress dancer keep their fan raised? When the jingle dress dance was first gaining popularity across Indian country, jingle dress dancers were taking their cues from Anishinabe women on how long and, when to raise their fans. Now it seems many dancers are dancing with their fans raised for the majority of the contest song. Is this a trend, fad or someones interpretation of gaining more points in competition? The reason I say more points in a competition is, because dancers don't normally raise their fans during every intertribal. The raising of fans occurs mostly during competition. Some women shake their fans to the beat of the drum and others pivot their fans right-to-left. Should an eagle fan be raised at the end of a song? Are there rules to raising an eagle fan? __________________ "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

12-20-2004, 09:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
ojibwaysweetie PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Heart of the Great Lakes, Ontario Canada Posts: 4,981	In that concrete bush! :p lol* __________________ "Gaa wiin daa-aangoshkigaazo ahaw enaabiyaan gaa-inaabid"

12-20-2004, 10:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
ojibwaysweetie PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Heart of the Great Lakes, Ontario Canada Posts: 4,981	There are no rules as per se. Many Ogitchida Ikwes dont even raise their feather or fan. I do think many just do what they feel at that time of the honour beats. But I love to saa saa kwe with my fellow jinglers! Its fun! hoops :D __________________ "Gaa wiin daa-aangoshkigaazo ahaw enaabiyaan gaa-inaabid"

01-28-2005, 12:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
ojibwaysweetie PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Heart of the Great Lakes, Ontario Canada Posts: 4,981	Yep, do what you feel is right with your feather or fan at the time of the honour beats. Thats all. __________________ "Gaa wiin daa-aangoshkigaazo ahaw enaabiyaan gaa-inaabid"

02-16-2005, 03:46 PM	#14 (permalink)
rachelg196 Gotta get dancin' again Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 113	.. I was taught to raise my fan on honor beats. __________________ Rachel

12-15-2004, 12:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
olestylin_chicken golden age dancer jks Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ober Der Posts: 7	i was taught that you could only raise your fan for a sick person and only old ppl could raise their fans

12-18-2004, 10:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
sookout sh'nob Boogie Monster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 534	Here's how i know fans. Those fans have a certain spirit living there inside of them, for sure an eagle, probably a thunderbird too. They say that when someon raises that fan, it is because that spirit has directed them to do so. It's not because someone else told them to or made a rule up, it's because it is a good thing to do. Because that spirit moves them to do so. Same way with the eagle whistle or fanning the drum. No one has to be sick or dying, you can do it because someone is felling well too. That's how us bush indians do it up there in the bush. Noopiming, ezhichige ezhichigeyaang! mii awe miigwech.

01-03-2005, 02:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
side_step_n_beauty Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Gods Country Posts: 7	From what I was taught...If you raise your 'eagle' fan above your head, your bringing chaos into your head. So I usually never raise my fan when I dance, just my hand when side step'n

01-14-2005, 02:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
beefy_cheefy Junior Dancer Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 129	When my grandafather gave us the right to use a fan he said that one of the reasons for using feathers is to honor that bird for its life and ask for the blessings of all peeps, and that thru our dancing the eagle is once again able to fly. if you dont put use to your fan whether in ceremonies or dancing than it is not meant for you and it will leave,but thats what i was told so i have my granmothers feathers, and i think everyone should do things the way they are taught and the way that their people have done things. Fan or no fan is up to the way a person is raised and how they feel. so its up to you how long you want to raise it.

01-28-2005, 03:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
~danielle~ Teen Dancer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Mt. Plez Posts: 489	That's funny.

03-09-2005, 02:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
b_b_jinglin ~~teen jingler~~ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Red Mesa,UT Posts: 45	yea me too,on all honor beatz.......thatz my way as well.............

03-10-2005, 05:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator