sunbursthonor

hello,
Reading more and more of the Northern Traditional book i noticed otter sash... i really like the idea and would love to make one... but having feather epolets as well... do you think they would mix good? or should i just choose one or the other? all comments great appreciated!

mike silent warrior

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traddancer553

I've never seen someone wear both feather epolets and an otter sash together but that doesn't mean you can't do it. My personal opinion is to try it out and see how it looks and if you don't like it choose the one you like more the other can be something you wear sometimes to give you a slightly different look.

_wuliechsin_

Go for it, if you like the look. I wear both the otter sash and euplates, and it looks really gooood. They are a nice combation together.

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Historian

It is my understanding that an otter sash or yoke, and feathers epaulets have different origin traditions and meanings beyond "looking good".

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"Be good, be kind, help each other."
"Respect the ground, respect the drum, respect each other."
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_wuliechsin_

Historian, I am sorry about my earlier post, it was a very impulisve statement. Do you know the origin of the otter sash or yoke and feather epaulates?

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Dance hard like there is no tomrrow. Hoka!

Being Native American isn't JUST about blood. It is a Spiritual way of life.

www.myspace.com/beadboy Be sure to sign my guestbook!!!

"Tell me and I will listen, Show me and I will understand, Take me in and I will learn." -A Lakota proverb

Historian

It is my understanding that mirrors were thought by many tribes to be connected with Thunderbeings. The sun that flashed from a mirror had a relationship with the lightning that flashed during a thunderstorm. In the buffalo days it was believed that mirrors had the power of the Thunderbeings in them.

In part, this is why some northern warrior societies wore the otter skin yoke with mirrors attached, to blind and confuse the enemy from a practical standpoint, but also to have the power of the Thunderbeings with them as well. You can see many old photos of Omaha Dances on Pine Ridge or Rosebud, with dancers wearing the mirrored otter yokes.

Notice the dancer on the far left in the picture below.


As far as the feather epaulates, I think WhoMe posted something about the recent origins of this dance clothes element. If I remember correctly, it was attributed to one Northern Traditional Dancer in the 1980s?, and it spread in popularity.

__________________

"Be good, be kind, help each other."
"Respect the ground, respect the drum, respect each other."
--Abe Conklin, Ponca/Osage (1926-1995)

_wuliechsin_

Thank you Historain, I always learn alot form you.

__________________
Dance hard like there is no tomrrow. Hoka!

Being Native American isn't JUST about blood. It is a Spiritual way of life.

www.myspace.com/beadboy Be sure to sign my guestbook!!!

"Tell me and I will listen, Show me and I will understand, Take me in and I will learn." -A Lakota proverb