WhoMe

Colors, symbols and designs had great meaning to our Indian ancestors in days gone by. This is especially true in face painting.

There used to be many reasons for wearing face paint. Each color had a different meaning according to tribe. The wearers often received their paint, symbols and designs: in ceremony, from a respected elder when the wearer was first given a name, used as protection or earned on the battlefield.

Today's traditional dancer face designs seem to have evolved into a whole new realm - away from tradition. Many of today's face paint designs are a personal interpretation. Yet, they are still called "traditional dancers."

It is my personal belief that if the true traditional dancers of early last century could see the face paint of today's "traditional dancers," there would be many questions brought up.

Is this a valid assumption? What are your thoughts? Good or Bad?

WhoMe

Okay, I'll shorten my question and get right to the point. . .

"Are today's face painting designs on 'traditional' dancers getting away from tradition?"

NoTrad. Eagle Scout

I've been wondering the same thing. But I have a question, too--

Are the face paint designs on Traditional dancers today given to them or did they make them up? (I'm thinkin' maybe both but I'm not sure.) I know that either way, they have great meaning to the individual wearing them, though.

Somebody please respond to this Thread and shed some light on this subject. Thanks!
:candle:

__________________
Point to the part of you that's Indian... "The heart knows what it is." I may look like I'm white, but my heart knows I'm Native.

WhoMe

___

NTEScout:

You answered your own question. There ARE men in the dance arena who wear face paint that has strong meaning. They received their designs in a number of traditional ways according to their tribe or ceremonial associations.

But . . .

Because there are so many dancers who fall under the men's traditional catagory, "new" traditional dancers "ARE" making them up.

It is my opinion that . . .

"A traditional dancer who paints his face in a design that they can wear in a powwow OR WWF arena . . . . is NOT wearing a traditional design."

Peacefulwarrior

not to repeat what was said above, As it is true, but face paint falls into the same area as any other Traditional thing, there are going to be people that actually follow tradition, then there are people who are going to make it up as they want to. It is sad that it happens but it does.

__________________
Why does fat chance, and slim chance mean the same thing?

..AmuneOne..

good topic i was just wounderingthe same thing about face pianting and you guys cleared it up prety good for me i want a tradittional design whitch i did earn or was giving to me from an elder but my problem is my grandma is for getting some of our tradittion and my granpa s sister who teaches our culture on the rez is hard to get a hold of and since my rez is on the other side of canada from were i am now it s is very hard to comunicate espcially when i dont talk with poeple back home but im trying to do the best i can to be traditional

__________________
[font=Arial Black]FONT]

Kakeeya

I see some of the younger more contemporary traditional dancers wear some paint that reminds me of that rock group KISS (without the tongues hanging out, lol). One of those young men is an accomplished dancer and places regularly and I am friends with his uncle. I asked the uncle about the face paint and he said they don't use it the way his nephew was using it and later spoke with his nephew and asked him not to paint his face like that cuz that wasn't their way.

durty-kawdayz49

paint away






Durty

__________________
give good sing hard and try not to fart infront a fine flat butt babe!

ojibwaysweetie

Lots of contemporary traditional men paint up for contest, it adds to the outfit.

Personally I don't care for it. I think our ndn men are handsome without it :D When I see a good dancer painted up I wonder if he's as good looking as his dancing is :D

__________________

superndngyrl

....or sometimes the guy looks really good w/the face paint and then takes it off and you cant even recognize them.

__________________
The only time its too late to start dancing is when you're dead.

ojibwaysweetie

*LOL*....I spoze so! I never thought about it that way :D

__________________

Soohkiisimsstaan

So, is face painting strictly for Traditional dancers? Grass dancer Marty Pinnecoose has always sported white stripes under his eyes and they look bad (good)!

ojibwaysweetie

I've seen all men dancers in each category wear it. I guess was just the traditional men's category that came up here :)

__________________

matthew