WhoMe

Do you support women who form All Women Drum Groups?


:Thumbs YES:
Women have always used different types of drums in their women's ceremonies. Powwow is a contemporary expression of Indian culture so all women drum groups should be allowed. Women are able to sing just as good as men. Like the "fancy shawl dance," all women drum groups are an expression of individuality in modern society. I support women who sing at the drum and all women drum groups.


OR

:NoNo NO:
Women have no right to beat the drum with a drumstick. This is not a traditional expression and women who do are wrong. A women's place is behind the men singers. Several traditional beliefs are broken when women sing on the drum. This is just plain wrong - pure and simple. I will not support or condone women who sing at the drum.

KeetersCAT

Yeah sure....specially if Charlotte Church is the lead singer. HAHAHA!!!!

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tuck & roll

White Powwow Dancer

Gawiin here and in German Nien here too.

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Asema Is Sacred
Traditional Use, Not Misuse
Wakan Tanka please have compassion on me.
OK Niji we are running a train with red over yellow at this powwow.

WhoMe

After checking the poll, an overwhelming majority of pws.com readers DO NOT support women singing at the drum.

Coyot_In_The_House

Sandra Black Bear (Ironwood)

Howard Bad Hand's wife (Red Leaf Takoja)

Little Boy Singers

Cathedral Lakes

Remember Snake River?

I can name some more, but folks just know I like to rock the boat..........

No Name

The greatest drum group I've ever witnessed was comprised of all women...(sadly, I can't remember their name...but they drummed at the Yarema's Lake powwow 4 or 5 maybe 6 yrs ago...if it was you you rule!) and they had the best 49's ever. Really humorous. Anyway, I support it totally and I may be setting myself up for attack here, but I think that traditions do have to evolve just like everything around them. Now I'm not saying we should ditch old ways by any means, but we're not living in the past and as someone mentioned earlier powwows are a realitively new tradition themselves. Augmentations and exception are perfectly acceptable within reason and even necessary on occaision.

Ladies, if you're out there drumming, keep it up.

...and if you need some help from another ambitious lady I'm right here.

:clapping: :Thumbs

rkbtmeyb

:NoNo

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Mens inhumanity to each other is surpassed ONLY by what women do to each other.
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Quote: "I blame it on my youngnessness..." BTH
DEATH TO ALL LURKERS!!!! ME

ojibwaysweetie

Gawiin. :NoNo

Our Ojibway tradition is to sing behind the men, not at the drum. Woodland Anishnabe Ikwe do not sit around the drum and sing as the men do. There is a story, a teaching of very old that we have within our nation regarding this.
I don't want to put it here though.
I understand there are tribes who do this, and that is fine and can respect that. I am only talking for my tribe. However even within my tribe there are females who do this. To me we have our traditions that was given to us since the Creator put us here on his earth. That drum story is an original teaching and to me, is not to be changed. Why change an original teaching that was given to us by the Creator? We have to keep those traditions alive and well. :)

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Smeshigaud

*agrees with Sweetie*

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He's the type of rez I like
~A. Waquie Nov. 2003~

Snaggin_NDN

I don't support or disagree with women who sing at the drum. I am left to let the woman or women singers to leave that decision for themselves. However when women decide to come and sing at my drum I ask them to not hit the drum. The only thing i tell women is think about it before you start to sing on a drum.

The reason i prefer women not to sing with my drum is that the drum represents the Heartbeat of Mother Earth, and Mother Earth is also the representative for women, and mothers. The drumsticks used to sound the drum represent the manhood of a male. And when the drum is sounded it represents the heartbeats of both the male and female in performing consumation (sex). So when a lady sounds or hits the drum it literally represents homosexuallity.

For those women singers reading this, keep doing what you do if you feel it is appropriate and that what you do is a good thing out of intention. Don't be discouraged by believing in yourself.

Sing on any drum you are permitted but none of mine.

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"If God wanted me to be a white man he would have done so in the first place" -Sitting Bull

WhoMe

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Snaggin:

I have heard of the drum representing both male and female genders. I have also heard about the drumstick. But I never have heard about them doing "the knock, knock dance" when meeting. Is this a Cree thing?

Every tribe believes differently about the spirit of the drum and its symbolism. It is interesting to learn different beliefs concerning the drum.

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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

Coyot_In_The_House

I've heard it all now...

I'll remain the fly on the wall......This is too much...He was on a roll then had to dive right off the deep end.........wongeh

The_HULK