Photos taken during blanket dance?!?!?

**MayChe** · 10-13-2008, 12:58 AM

Ladies,

I'm feeling a little uneasy. My friend and I were asked to do a blanket dance this past weekend for a woman who needed the prayers. The dance was explained by the MC, but he didn't tell the spectators to not take any photos and I wasn't aware that he didn't say that. So surfing the web tonight I find photos of the blanket dance we did! I immediately sent an email to the guy who took the photos and let him know that photos were not to be taken during that time, that I understood that the MC didn't explain this and if he could take them down. Hopefully he'll respect my request.

Is there anything else I should do?

SpeakingOwl · 10-13-2008, 12:48 PM

here we go again. the question of photos at a social gathering. I believe that during a powwow, which in my is a social function, the public and open aspect of it is apperent to all in attendance. There are ceremonial aspects that should be respected as such. but the "over sactification" of other parts of a powwow are rampant. there are those that "ask for prayers" from "whislte carriers: are therse people deemed medicine men just because they were presented with a whistle?"
If a person looks at powwow as some sort of a religious experience I think that they are mistakenly placing thier faith. Many Urban Indian and the likes of Born again indians, these days are making out alot of powwows into there religion it would seem.
they want to think that blanket dances are "sacred" but in all reality it is an a plea for money.
Prayers for Loved ones I believe is a private thing.

**Josiah** · 10-13-2008, 01:32 PM

I was not aware that a "Blanket Dance" was a sacred thing
Not sure why it would it be...
Brings to mind a story
I was 20 years old and home on my first leave from the Navy.
My mother made sure I had brought home my dress uniform but did not say why
We went to a powwow here in Oklahoma and she told me to put on my uniform.
It was a dance for some Navy veterans of WWII and the looks on there faces when I came into the room in full dress uniform was a great feeling!
Well a blanket dance was called for and they danced with me,
While this was going on many people took pictures and a Video crew from the Local station was there. And you know not one person thought that we should not take pictures or video tape this.
Since that day I have been to many many many powwows here in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and NOT once have I seen some one say
HEY NO PICTURES OF A BLANKET DANCE!!!

Powwows are a Social Dance and Celebration...
So Dance and celebrate

I have been to Ceremonies such as a Sun Dance and there were HUGE Billboard size signs that said NO PHOTOS ALLOWED and you know there were still people that were totally surprised that they were asked to leave because they had not paid attention to the sign or thought it did not pertain to them!!!! This I can understand

7pointbull · 10-13-2008, 01:51 PM

depends on what kind of blanket dance. i do a WHOLE different type of blanket dance, but let's not go there. I certainly would like to know if someone was taking my picture during this....er dance. lol

**walela49** · 10-13-2008, 03:19 PM

yeah, a request to remove the publicly posted picture is about all you can do

my advice: try to do it nicely, impartially, professionally, etc so you don't start a war with the photographer! a few people will get defensive no matter how you say it, so be prepared. lol

just last week I asked a photog. to remove a pic of a fallen eagle feather from public view (on Flickr)....he/she did without protest, so I guess that's that.

**MayChe** · 10-13-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeakingOwl

here we go again. the question of photos at a social gathering. I believe that during a powwow, which in my is a social function, the public and open aspect of it is apperent to all in attendance. There are ceremonial aspects that should be respected as such. but the "over sactification" of other parts of a powwow are rampant. there are those that "ask for prayers" from "whislte carriers: are therse people deemed medicine men just because they were presented with a whistle?"
If a person looks at powwow as some sort of a religious experience I think that they are mistakenly placing thier faith. Many Urban Indian and the likes of Born again indians, these days are making out alot of powwows into there religion it would seem.
they want to think that blanket dances are "sacred" but in all reality it is an a plea for money.
Prayers for Loved ones I believe is a private thing.

Umm, I don't think we're talking about the same blanket dance. I meant the one that Jingle dancers do for someone who needs healing. No money was involved except money given to the drum for the song.

**MayChe** · 10-13-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josiah

I was not aware that a "Blanket Dance" was a sacred thing
Not sure why it would it be...
Brings to mind a story
I was 20 years old and home on my first leave from the Navy.
My mother made sure I had brought home my dress uniform but did not say why
We went to a powwow here in Oklahoma and she told me to put on my uniform.
It was a dance for some Navy veterans of WWII and the looks on there faces when I came into the room in full dress uniform was a great feeling!
Well a blanket dance was called for and they danced with me,
While this was going on many people took pictures and a Video crew from the Local station was there. And you know not one person thought that we should not take pictures or video tape this.
Since that day I have been to many many many powwows here in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and NOT once have I seen some one say
HEY NO PICTURES OF A BLANKET DANCE!!!

Powwows are a Social Dance and Celebration...
So Dance and celebrate

I have been to Ceremonies such as a Sun Dance and there were HUGE Billboard size signs that said NO PHOTOS ALLOWED and you know there were still people that were totally surprised that they were asked to leave because they had not paid attention to the sign or thought it did not pertain to them!!!! This I can understand

I went to a powwow in Nevada they were doing a ceremony for a boy, changing out his hawk feathers for eagle feathers and photos weren't allowed for that. I can understand that too.

But yeah, we're talking about two separate blanket dances.

**MayChe** · 10-13-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walela49

yeah, a request to remove the publicly posted picture is about all you can do

my advice: try to do it nicely, impartially, professionally, etc so you don't start a war with the photographer! a few people will get defensive no matter how you say it, so be prepared. lol

just last week I asked a photog. to remove a pic of a fallen eagle feather from public view (on Flickr)....he/she did without protest, so I guess that's that.

Thanks walela. He did get back to me and he apologized and took down the photos.

WhoMe · 10-14-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MayChe

Umm, I don't think we're talking about the same blanket dance. I meant the one that Jingle dancers do for someone who needs healing. No money was involved except money given to the drum for the song.

May,

A healing dance at a powwow in Florida?

Hmmmmm?

What kind of drum sang for this and what kind of song was sung?

**MayChe** · 10-15-2008, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMe

May,

A healing dance at a powwow in Florida?

Hmmmmm?

What kind of drum sang for this and what kind of song was sung?

A little strange huh? Given Florida's rep for powwows. But actually at this powwow we had Billy Evans Horse's drum there and they sang a prayer song. You gotta work with what you got, you know?

WhoMe · 10-15-2008, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MayChe

A little strange huh? Given Florida's rep for powwows. But actually at this powwow we had Billy Evans Horse's drum there and they sang a prayer song. You gotta work with what you got, you know?

May,

You jingle danced to a Kiowa Prayer Song????

**Josiah** · 10-15-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMe

May,

You jingle danced to a Kiowa Prayer Song????

Ok now its getting strange... I could handle there is a different kind of blanket dance
But a Kiowa Prayer Song that you Jingle Dance to now that is something I have never heard of

10-13-2008, 12:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
MayChe Minglin' N Jinglin' Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Flo' Da Posts: 1,120	Photos taken during blanket dance?!?!? Ladies, I'm feeling a little uneasy. My friend and I were asked to do a blanket dance this past weekend for a woman who needed the prayers. The dance was explained by the MC, but he didn't tell the spectators to not take any photos and I wasn't aware that he didn't say that. So surfing the web tonight I find photos of the blanket dance we did! I immediately sent an email to the guy who took the photos and let him know that photos were not to be taken during that time, that I understood that the MC didn't explain this and if he could take them down. Hopefully he'll respect my request. Is there anything else I should do? __________________ Check me out on MySpace: www.myspace.com/mayasbored **~If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all. ~**

10-13-2008, 01:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Josiah PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oklahoma City Oklahoma USA Posts: 4,366 Blog Entries: 4	I was not aware that a "Blanket Dance" was a sacred thing Not sure why it would it be... Brings to mind a story I was 20 years old and home on my first leave from the Navy. My mother made sure I had brought home my dress uniform but did not say why We went to a powwow here in Oklahoma and she told me to put on my uniform. It was a dance for some Navy veterans of WWII and the looks on there faces when I came into the room in full dress uniform was a great feeling! Well a blanket dance was called for and they danced with me, While this was going on many people took pictures and a Video crew from the Local station was there. And you know not one person thought that we should not take pictures or video tape this. Since that day I have been to many many many powwows here in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and NOT once have I seen some one say HEY NO PICTURES OF A BLANKET DANCE!!! Powwows are a Social Dance and Celebration... So Dance and celebrate I have been to Ceremonies such as a Sun Dance and there were HUGE Billboard size signs that said NO PHOTOS ALLOWED and you know there were still people that were totally surprised that they were asked to leave because they had not paid attention to the sign or thought it did not pertain to them!!!! This I can understand __________________

10-13-2008, 01:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
7pointbull I.T.I. Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rocky Mountain High Posts: 773 Blog Entries: 1	depends on what kind of blanket dance. i do a WHOLE different type of blanket dance, but let's not go there. I certainly would like to know if someone was taking my picture during this....er dance. lol __________________ It's mind control. Corruption of yer taughts, destruction of yer soul...

10-13-2008, 03:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
walela49 the legal plumes lady! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: www.walela49.com Posts: 1,156	yeah, a request to remove the publicly posted picture is about all you can do my advice: try to do it nicely, impartially, professionally, etc so you don't start a war with the photographer! a few people will get defensive no matter how you say it, so be prepared. lol just last week I asked a photog. to remove a pic of a fallen eagle feather from public view (on Flickr)....he/she did without protest, so I guess that's that. __________________ See my trading post ads See my photo gallery See walela49's myspace page

10-13-2008, 12:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
SpeakingOwl Tiny Tot Dancer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: pendleton oregon Posts: 44	here we go again. the question of photos at a social gathering. I believe that during a powwow, which in my is a social function, the public and open aspect of it is apperent to all in attendance. There are ceremonial aspects that should be respected as such. but the "over sactification" of other parts of a powwow are rampant. there are those that "ask for prayers" from "whislte carriers: are therse people deemed medicine men just because they were presented with a whistle?" If a person looks at powwow as some sort of a religious experience I think that they are mistakenly placing thier faith. Many Urban Indian and the likes of Born again indians, these days are making out alot of powwows into there religion it would seem. they want to think that blanket dances are "sacred" but in all reality it is an a plea for money. Prayers for Loved ones I believe is a private thing.

10-15-2008, 03:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
MayChe Minglin' N Jinglin'