WhoMe

There are two threads about the term 'squaw' currently being debated on powwows.com. There are many more threads about this subject in the archives.

When I first saw the jingle dress dance, the emcee referred to the side step as the squaw dance.

If an announcer asked for a traditional squaw dance song to be sung for your jingle dress exhibition - would you be offended?

(the Dineh' also have a squaw dance. But that's a different subject).

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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

ndngirl70

I would be offended. I would hope that most emcees would understand the change in language and realize that this word now has a negative conotation. It's true that the word was once an acceptable word in some languages, mine included. However, as it was dicussed in the other threads, words sometimes take on different meanings as time goes on. For example, the words gay and faggot were once commomly accepted words but now have negative meanings.

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wyo_rose

This has been an accepted word for so long in a lot of native communities. I would hope that PC people would be a little forgiving if an emcee slips or forgets.

I know I couldn't think of what to call my favorite food when I was a kid in Alaska - smoked salmon strips and just blurted out "squaw candy", cuz it's such an ingrained thing.

WocusWoman

alot of people still refer to Salstrips, short for salmon strips, as squaw candy.... I'd be offended and would have to open my mouth if an emcee called for a Squaw dance!

Nipkie

Definaly as a man i would be upset that the Mc Would call my nisnabay queay realtives squal in any way shap or form and fopr those of you that don't know a squawl is a hooker or one who sleeps around that is what it means.... By the way to a all my friends I"M BACK FROM THE POWWOW TRAIL :) !!!!!!!!!!

ojibwaysweetie

Well.............ya know a long time ago say perhaps 80-100 years ago (and I figure that long ago cuz I'm trying to remember the ages of some of my grammas who passed on a few years back and they were in their 80's) they used to call it a "squaw dance", of course, not meaning for it to be derrogatory. It was just a name--just a word with the understanding it was more of a (silly) term for women. Them grammas back then did not think it was a negative term because they lived goot lives then and loved everyone. I've heard the term "sqaw dance" also, and I take it as just that ----a simple word.

Now if a non native man called me a squaw with a derrogatory meaning and manner I'd kick his azz.

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meskwaki_diva

The word squaw in my language means a**hole, For someone to call you that, I'll forgive the white folk, but your own kind to refer to that word to you there just down right mean. For most Native Tribes that word is derogatory.

pwow-chic

Right on! I agree witcha, it's still called "squaw dance" on my rez.

WhoMe

pwow,

This is what I am getting at.....

Elders in traditional communities, called today's sidestep - a Squaw Dance. Because, they had never heard of political correctness.

Same with costumes. My elders called their dance cloths "costumes!"

Hmmmmm?

If a traditional elder requested only costumed dancers can dance the squaw dance.... who would tell them differently?

__________________
"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

sookout sh'nob

I'm amused that a group of people that could complain forever about an Outkast performance, misogynistic rap lyrics and thier affect on our kids, and sports team mascotts would allow this sort crap slide.

It's ok because he's old and doesn't know any better? I never got off that easy when I was learning things - never, not once. You all know that would NEVER fly. At the very least you'd wind up in an involuntary conversation that might seem to last a lifetime. Apologists. Slackers. Bystanders.

Amazing, pure amazing.

Let's have a round of applause for internalzied opression.

bighand

i'm most deeply sorry. i did not know that, thank you for putting me right on that, so what do you call the females dress, and a female dancer. yours bighand

bighand

i'm most deeply sorry. i did not know that, thank you for putting me right on that, so what do you call the females dress, and a female dancer. yours bighand

ojibwaysweetie

I've been there and went out in my costume and danced squaw dance real hard. *he he he*

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