New Dancer introducing her self with questions!

2012amy · 06-26-2008, 03:33 PM

Hi everyone. My name is Amy and I'm in Ohio, I wanted to write a little about my self and about jingle dancing. I am partblood Oglala Lakota. Several months ago a vision came to me in a dream, in which an Elder woman appeared and said "you will dance for me", I later envisioned a jingle dress of blue and white broad cloth with silver jingles, kind of a "thundercloud" motif. I have been going to powwows for awhile now, observing, doing a lot of research on the origin of the dress etc. I'm 23 years old and I've never been a dancer before, what family I do have is not on the "red road" so to speak, so I kind of feel like I'm on my own here figuring these things out. I have a few questions and was hoping to find some guidence here amongst my fellow jingle dancers.

Like I said, I am Lakota, and Im going to dance Old Style, would it be inappropriate to dance with one feather on the left side, like I've heard/seen some Lakota Old Style Jinglers do?

And my last question. I've not found a lot of Natives in Ohio and I don't really have any family to do a ceremony for me for my first dance. Would it be appropriate for me to just go and dance with out any kind of special or ceremony for me?

Prayers to you all!
Amy

they_drag_him · 06-26-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2012amy

Hi everyone. My name is Amy and I'm in Ohio, I wanted to write a little about my self and about jingle dancing. I am partblood Oglala Lakota. Several months ago a vision came to me in a dream, in which an Elder woman appeared and said "you will dance for me", I later envisioned a jingle dress of blue and white broad cloth with silver jingles, kind of a "thundercloud" motif. I have been going to powwows for awhile now, observing, doing a lot of research on the origin of the dress etc. My friend who lives in Wyoming surpised me with 100 jingles which really drove home the idea that I'm supposed to be doing this. I'm 23 years old and I've never been a dancer before, what family I do have is not on the "red road" so to speak, so I kind of feel like I'm on my own here figuring these things out. I have a few questions and was hoping to find some guidence here amongst my fellow jingle dancers.

Like I said, I am Lakota, and Im going to dance Old Style, would it be inappropriate to dance with one feather on the left side, like I've heard/seen some Lakota Old Style Jinglers do?

Next, I've been watching videos, and listening to a lot of music, but are there specific songs for jinglers that I will get to know? Or will the music be different at each powwow? What I'm asking is how will I know when to have both feet on the ground at the end of the song/drum beat?

The Old Style dress includes hair ties, earrings, a chocker or scarf, belt, moxs and leggings right? What about a purse, is that traditionally worn? I can't find any details on the purse or the meaning of the purse.

And my last question. I've not found a lot of Natives in Ohio and I don't really have any family to do a ceremony for me for my first dance. Would it be appropriate for me to just go and dance with out any kind of special or ceremony for me?

I know that was a lot, but any information you could share with me would be greatly apperciated, thanks for taking the time to read my story.

Prayers to you all!
Amy
myspace.com/2012amy

These questions should be answered by an elder, the person who taught you to dance or your family from South Dakota. Most importantly, this dress belongs to the Ojibwe.

2012amy · 06-27-2008, 10:22 AM

Thanks for the advice

**billyjoejimbob** · 06-27-2008, 02:20 PM

Start by STOPPING what you are doing in that first photo on your myspace page. If it isnt what I think it is, my apologies, but the plant on the shelf behind you makes me think it is what I think it is.

2012amy · 06-27-2008, 05:54 PM

Oh no you are misunderstood, that was my beloved Mogley, who passed away this year, that plant is called "Schefflera arboricola" a common house plant. Google Image it!

**billyjoejimbob** · 06-27-2008, 07:44 PM

Then that is good to hear! Ill assume that the Cheech jokes are just jokes too.

Do you know what family you came from? Find them, find the old women, bring some food (just like the movies). That is if you want traditional values, anyone can sell you the dance for $10 and a pack of smokes.

they_drag_him · 06-27-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2012amy

Oh no you are misunderstood, that was my beloved Mogley, who passed away this year, that plant is called "Schefflera arboricola" a common house plant. Google Image it!

Ok, so you are not a pot smoker. I'd like to know which band of the Lakota claims you?

2012amy · 06-27-2008, 09:05 PM

I didn't think any one would care to know my whole life story! I am half Oglala Lakota from my mothers side. I was raised by foster parents because my mom was really messed up at the time and I don't know who my dad is but he is white. My mom was born in Pineridge but has been in Ohio her entire life. My great great grandfather was a man named Shoewater, her side of the families last name is Hutchison. I had a vision in a dream about this dance, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. I know I have a lot of questions, but I don't have any family to guide my way, and I would go to South Dakota and find the people that I know I need too, but I live on my own and I don't have the money to pay for that trip at the moment. I know the jingle dress dance is a healing dance, and thats exactly what I need and want to share. Exscuse me for bringing my questions here, I thought I could find some help, but I guess this is another dead end for me. Thank you for listening though...

they_drag_him · 06-27-2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2012amy

I didn't think any one would care to know my whole life story! I am half Oglala Lakota from my mothers side. I was raised by foster parents because my mom was really messed up at the time and I don't know who my dad is but he is white. My mom was born in Pineridge but has been in Ohio her entire life. My great great grandfather was a man named Shoewater, her side of the families last name is Hutchison. I don't know any of these people because I'd been in foster care. I only know the story of my grandfather Shoewater. I have recently been in contact with my mom, and like I said in the original post, she is not on the "red road" to teach me anything. I had a vision in a dream about this dance, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. I know I have a lot of questions, but I don't have any family to guide my way, and I would go to South Dakota and find the people that I know I need too, but I live on my own and I don't have the money to pay for that trip at the moment. I know the jingle dress dance is a healing dance, and thats exactly what I need and want to share. Exscuse me for bringing my questions here, I thought I could find some help, but I guess this is another dead end for me. Thank you for listening though...

You want instant gratification? You haven't even given us a chance to help you.

2012amy · 06-27-2008, 10:46 PM

No, I certainly don't want instant gratification. If I've learned anything in life, its that nothing worth having comes with out HARD work! I apologize for coming off like that, it just feels like I'm being scrutenized here.

I'm just trying to make some friends.. and maybe learn a thing or two

**Josiah** · 06-27-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2012amy

No, I certainly don't want instant gratification. If I've learned anything in life, its that nothing worth having comes with out HARD work! I apologize for coming off like that, it just feels like I'm being scrutinized here.

I'm just trying to make some friends.. and maybe learn a thing or two

Many come on here to ask questions and have similar stories
they ask there questions and not get the answers they want to hear and poof we never see them again.
All this takes time

As with meeting somebody in real life
You sit down and talk, get to know them, then ask some questions. You will not get all the answers you want on the first meeting

So
When people ask you questions here they are merely getting a feel where you come from, Its not an interrogation but in a short time they will have a understanding where you are in this...

I suggest you go onto the Jingle Forum in this website and READ, just read....
It is possible that alot of your questions could be answered and certainly the knowledge would not hurt because then you could ask more informed questions...

MrsArapahoSparkz · 06-28-2008, 12:08 AM

:

Hi Amy....From reading this I was kind of shocked. From the start you (amy) said that you didn't know much and apoligized in advance very humbally. I think that everyone made a mistake because they assumed and judged before they wrote and now some are starting to justify it already because they know they were quick to judge. I think that it is shameful to not have love and patience in your hearts for any child brought up in foster care without family ties, especially our native brothers and sisters who have had their chance at learning important things taken away from them......I understand that she said some silly or uneducated things, but really she was doin what she could to ask before just dancing and expressing the motivation to dance from the heart & thats cool to me.........PM me gurl & I'd be glad to try an help ya, and if I don't know ur answer, I will ask around me & mah hubby's family till we can help ya out as much as we can............

2012amy · 06-28-2008, 08:50 AM

Josiah-Thank you for your time. I have read EVERY post in the jingle forum, and did not see anwsers to my questions, thats why I started a new thread! As for meeting someone in "real life", as I have previously stated, I've yet to meet any one that could sit and help me with my questions, thats why I'm here. Would you suggest I wait to dance until I can afford to make that trip to South Dakota for the guidance?

06-26-2008, 03:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
2012amy 2012Amy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 30	New Dancer introducing her self with questions! Hi everyone. My name is Amy and I'm in Ohio, I wanted to write a little about my self and about jingle dancing. I am partblood Oglala Lakota. Several months ago a vision came to me in a dream, in which an Elder woman appeared and said "you will dance for me", I later envisioned a jingle dress of blue and white broad cloth with silver jingles, kind of a "thundercloud" motif. I have been going to powwows for awhile now, observing, doing a lot of research on the origin of the dress etc. I'm 23 years old and I've never been a dancer before, what family I do have is not on the "red road" so to speak, so I kind of feel like I'm on my own here figuring these things out. I have a few questions and was hoping to find some guidence here amongst my fellow jingle dancers. Like I said, I am Lakota, and Im going to dance Old Style, would it be inappropriate to dance with one feather on the left side, like I've heard/seen some Lakota Old Style Jinglers do? And my last question. I've not found a lot of Natives in Ohio and I don't really have any family to do a ceremony for me for my first dance. Would it be appropriate for me to just go and dance with out any kind of special or ceremony for me? Prayers to you all! Amy Last edited by 2012amy; 08-01-2008 at 10:42 AM.

06-27-2008, 02:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,525	Start by STOPPING what you are doing in that first photo on your myspace page. If it isnt what I think it is, my apologies, but the plant on the shelf behind you makes me think it is what I think it is. __________________ There are 2 types of people in the world... Really stupid people who think they are smart and Really smart people who think they are smart.

06-27-2008, 07:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,525	Then that is good to hear! Ill assume that the Cheech jokes are just jokes too. Do you know what family you came from? Find them, find the old women, bring some food (just like the movies). That is if you want traditional values, anyone can sell you the dance for $10 and a pack of smokes. __________________ There are 2 types of people in the world... Really stupid people who think they are smart and Really smart people who think they are smart.

06-27-2008, 09:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
2012amy 2012Amy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 30	I didn't think any one would care to know my whole life story! I am half Oglala Lakota from my mothers side. I was raised by foster parents because my mom was really messed up at the time and I don't know who my dad is but he is white. My mom was born in Pineridge but has been in Ohio her entire life. My great great grandfather was a man named Shoewater, her side of the families last name is Hutchison. I had a vision in a dream about this dance, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. I know I have a lot of questions, but I don't have any family to guide my way, and I would go to South Dakota and find the people that I know I need too, but I live on my own and I don't have the money to pay for that trip at the moment. I know the jingle dress dance is a healing dance, and thats exactly what I need and want to share. Exscuse me for bringing my questions here, I thought I could find some help, but I guess this is another dead end for me. Thank you for listening though... Last edited by 2012amy; 08-01-2008 at 10:53 AM.

06-28-2008, 12:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
MrsArapahoSparkz Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 17	Hey derr : Hi Amy....From reading this I was kind of shocked. From the start you (amy) said that you didn't know much and apoligized in advance very humbally. I think that everyone made a mistake because they assumed and judged before they wrote and now some are starting to justify it already because they know they were quick to judge. I think that it is shameful to not have love and patience in your hearts for any child brought up in foster care without family ties, especially our native brothers and sisters who have had their chance at learning important things taken away from them......I understand that she said some silly or uneducated things, but really she was doin what she could to ask before just dancing and expressing the motivation to dance from the heart & thats cool to me.........PM me gurl & I'd be glad to try an help ya, and if I don't know ur answer, I will ask around me & mah hubby's family till we can help ya out as much as we can............ __________________

06-27-2008, 10:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
2012amy 2012Amy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 30	Thanks for the advice

06-27-2008, 05:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
2012amy 2012Amy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 30	Oh no you are misunderstood, that was my beloved Mogley, who passed away this year, that plant is called "Schefflera arboricola" a common house plant. Google Image it!

06-27-2008, 10:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
2012amy 2012Amy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 30	No, I certainly don't want instant gratification. If I've learned anything in life, its that nothing worth having comes with out HARD work! I apologize for coming off like that, it just feels like I'm being scrutenized here. I'm just trying to make some friends.. and maybe learn a thing or two

06-28-2008, 08:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
2012amy 2012Amy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 30	Josiah-Thank you for your time. I have read EVERY post in the jingle forum, and did not see anwsers to my questions, thats why I started a new thread! As for meeting someone in "real life", as I have previously stated, I've yet to meet any one that could sit and help me with my questions, thats why I'm here. Would you suggest I wait to dance until I can afford to make that trip to South Dakota for the guidance?