Upset and Embarrassed

giizhigokwe1966 · 05-01-2008, 06:29 PM

Something happened at a recent pow wow, and many people are talking about it. It is very embarassing, and many Elders have expressed how upset they are about. Tribal Chairs also. People in other states have heard about it too.

After the Grand Entry, someone performed a ceremony and smoked his pipe in the middle of the arena. Everyone was wondering what was going on...many did not find out until after.

What is upsetting to many people is that he brought the pipe into the arena and smoked it. Many people are embarrased because it reflects poorly on the entire community. What would you do if this happened at your pow wow? How would you feel?

RainbowSpiriDancer · 05-01-2008, 07:32 PM

Since I've been on the pow-wow trail, I try to watch and learn. I was at Pow-wow in Hertford County, NC, several years ago, when a woman entered the circle, danced, and then held up a warriors staff. I didn't really understand what was going on at the time but the next thing I know, the drum quit playing and it was almost a war. I thought they would lynch that woman on the spot. It was a big mess.

For the life of me, I don't know why people attempt to do things if they don't really know what they are doing. If the person is use to attending pow-wows shouldn't they know what is right and what is wrong?

As to answer your question, once I found out what was going on with the warrior staff woman, I felt embarassed. And when people do rude things, I feel embarassed. As for the warrior staff woman, one of the drum tried to politely talk to her about the situation but she got angry and it turned into a big mess.

**Josiah** · 05-01-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giizhigokwe1966

Something happened at a recent pow wow, and many people are talking about it. It is very embarassing, and many Elders have expressed how upset they are about. Tribal Chairs also. People in other states have heard about it too.

After the Grand Entry, someone performed a ceremony and smoked his pipe in the middle of the arena. Everyone was wondering what was going on...many did not find out until after.

What is upsetting to many people is that he brought the pipe into the arena and smoked it. Many people are embarrased because it reflects poorly on the entire community. What would you do if this happened at your pow wow? How would you feel?

Where was the AD during this whole smoking session?
There job to take care of the arena

superndngyrl · 05-01-2008, 08:23 PM

what was in the pipe?

**Kiwehnzii** · 05-01-2008, 09:27 PM

Put this in your pipe 'n smokit.

**Kiwehnzii** · 05-01-2008, 09:28 PM

I forgot. J/K Ayyee.

giizhigokwe1966 · 05-01-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josiah

Where was the AD during this whole smoking session?
There job to take care of the arena

The Arena Director was great, and did a good job many times that day. My perception of what happened (based on what I've been told) is that the MC allowed the Ceremony, but nobody knew that the Pipe would be brought in until the guy lit the match. People seemed confused and everyone was asking "what's going on?" I think no one wanted to make a scene until afterward.

**billyjoejimbob** · 05-01-2008, 09:49 PM

You should come to the Northeast!!!

dancing bear · 05-02-2008, 01:35 AM

what was in the pipe?? what kind of pipe? what ceromony??

they_drag_him · 05-02-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giizhigokwe1966

The Arena Director was great, and did a good job many times that day. My perception of what happened (based on what I've been told) is that the MC allowed the Ceremony, but nobody knew that the Pipe would be brought in until the guy lit the match. People seemed confused and everyone was asking "what's going on?" I think no one wanted to make a scene until afterward.

You are not giving details. Where are the details. Spit it out.

giizhigokwe1966 · 05-02-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by they_drag_him

You are not giving details. Where are the details. Spit it out.

Sorry for being so vague- I wasn't sure if telling the whole story would be important, but here you go:

Shortly before Grand Entry, the pow wow committee (student organization) found out that the Spiritual Advisor could not make it, so one individual took it upon themself to invite someone (of questionable reputation in Indian Country) to step in as Spiritual Advisor. This person arrived, much to the angst of several people, and was permitted to do the job even though another highly respected Spiritual Leader was already on hand.

Here's where things went from bad to worse. He received permission from the MC to present an Eagle feather to someone in the arena. The feather was given, some words were spoken, then the Pipe was smoked. It was a traditional men's Pipe with Tobacco.

Afterward, many people carried on as if nothing happened. Others, especially the Elders, expressed their feelings about the Pipe being brought out like that. It goes against so many teachings. Ya know?

Did that fill in the blanks?

CloudN9ne · 05-02-2008, 11:31 AM

From the words of my uncle Russell Standingrock if you're going to get religous at a powwow Just STAY HOME!!!!

stymee · 05-02-2008, 11:40 AM

Was this a non-smoking building? Was there a band?

they_drag_him · 05-02-2008, 10:05 PM

Where did this take place? Were the elders from various tribes?

crazywolf · 05-03-2008, 12:55 AM

You know,

I have seen my share of wierd things around pow wows. These things happen around me, in or out of the arena, and honestly, I have never felt embaressed by any of them. Why should they? It was not me making a mistake. I remember a pow wow where a woman ranted and raved until she was allowed to bring in her "service" animal. I put that in quotes because this animal is supposed to be a seizure alert dog, but in fact this was a hybrid wolf dog. She brought her dog into the arena, and I left it. I was not embarassed, but a long time ago dogs and men parted ways, and are not supposed to be in the arena together.

I was embarassed by one event one time, at a show i was asked to do at a high school. There was small group of us there, and the flakey woman with the dog was there andI gota bad feeling. So this guy who organized the whole thing got up to introduce us all, and said something like, "We are here to dispell some of the myths about Native Americans... blah blah blah... after all, we all here are Christians."

I hid my face, and hoped there was no one in the audience that recognized me. Its funny that, because I never claimed to be one, except once upon a time a long time ago, but a lot has happened since that itme, and my views have changed. This guy knew better and probably said what he did without thinking. But then again, a lot of that goes on doesn't it? People think before they act.

Derek

05-01-2008, 06:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
giizhigokwe1966 Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Cloud, MN Posts: 22	Upset and Embarrassed Something happened at a recent pow wow, and many people are talking about it. It is very embarassing, and many Elders have expressed how upset they are about. Tribal Chairs also. People in other states have heard about it too. After the Grand Entry, someone performed a ceremony and smoked his pipe in the middle of the arena. Everyone was wondering what was going on...many did not find out until after. What is upsetting to many people is that he brought the pipe into the arena and smoked it. Many people are embarrased because it reflects poorly on the entire community. What would you do if this happened at your pow wow? How would you feel?

05-01-2008, 07:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
RainbowSpiriDancer Knowledge Seeker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 266	Since I've been on the pow-wow trail, I try to watch and learn. I was at Pow-wow in Hertford County, NC, several years ago, when a woman entered the circle, danced, and then held up a warriors staff. I didn't really understand what was going on at the time but the next thing I know, the drum quit playing and it was almost a war. I thought they would lynch that woman on the spot. It was a big mess. For the life of me, I don't know why people attempt to do things if they don't really know what they are doing. If the person is use to attending pow-wows shouldn't they know what is right and what is wrong? As to answer your question, once I found out what was going on with the warrior staff woman, I felt embarassed. And when people do rude things, I feel embarassed. As for the warrior staff woman, one of the drum tried to politely talk to her about the situation but she got angry and it turned into a big mess. __________________ "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is not a path and leave a trail."---Ralph Waldo Emerson "It's Now Or Never!" ---Elvis

05-01-2008, 08:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
superndngyrl photo fun Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: in front of the computer Posts: 4,294	what was in the pipe? __________________ The only time its too late to start dancing is when you're dead.

05-01-2008, 09:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,526	You should come to the Northeast!!! __________________ 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.

05-02-2008, 11:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
CloudN9ne Lavender Hill Mobb Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tha Rez Posts: 205	From the words of my uncle Russell Standingrock if you're going to get religous at a powwow Just STAY HOME!!!! __________________ "Go Make Sweat!!!" -Sonny Kennedy- 2003 don't get mad at me im just a critic

05-01-2008, 09:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	Put this in your pipe 'n smokit.

05-01-2008, 09:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	I forgot. J/K Ayyee.

05-02-2008, 01:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
dancing bear mtn lover.. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: wyoming now.. originally from new mexico though.. but summer is coming.. so my tent or my car.. Posts: 125	what was in the pipe?? what kind of pipe? what ceromony??

05-02-2008, 11:40 AM	#13 (permalink)
stymee stymee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: OkC Posts: 46	what Was this a non-smoking building? Was there a band?

05-02-2008, 10:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
they_drag_him Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: la mirada, ca Posts: 580	Where did this take place? Were the elders from various tribes?

05-03-2008, 12:55 AM	#15 (permalink)
crazywolf crazywolf Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: unsettled for now, MN Posts: 867 Blog Entries: 5	You know, I have seen my share of wierd things around pow wows. These things happen around me, in or out of the arena, and honestly, I have never felt embaressed by any of them. Why should they? It was not me making a mistake. I remember a pow wow where a woman ranted and raved until she was allowed to bring in her "service" animal. I put that in quotes because this animal is supposed to be a seizure alert dog, but in fact this was a hybrid wolf dog. She brought her dog into the arena, and I left it. I was not embarassed, but a long time ago dogs and men parted ways, and are not supposed to be in the arena together. I was embarassed by one event one time, at a show i was asked to do at a high school. There was small group of us there, and the flakey woman with the dog was there andI gota bad feeling. So this guy who organized the whole thing got up to introduce us all, and said something like, "We are here to dispell some of the myths about Native Americans... blah blah blah... after all, we all here are Christians." I hid my face, and hoped there was no one in the audience that recognized me. Its funny that, because I never claimed to be one, except once upon a time a long time ago, but a lot has happened since that itme, and my views have changed. This guy knew better and probably said what he did without thinking. But then again, a lot of that goes on doesn't it? People think before they act. Derek __________________ I believe in something I want to believe, not what someone wants me to believe.