Making my son's tradish regalia

nascarboys3 · 07-03-2008, 12:38 PM

Hi all. I am hoping to get some advice and help from all you traditional dancers. My youngest son will be turning six this month. He has cerebral palsy. Up until now, he has always danced in just a ribbon shirt and pants. He has now outgrown his shirt and really wants a full regalia. He wants to grass dance like his two older brothers, but due to his special needs mentioned above, I think traditional would better suit his abilities. My husband and I got a turkey this last spring and we were able to pluck MANY feathers as well as saving the entire tail fan and both wings!!! I spread the tail fan and dried it and am ready to start working with it. I wanted to use the fan as my son's bustle, but I was told that I have to take it all apart and re-attach it to a center circle. Do I really need to do this or can I leave it in it's original, natural form and let him have half instead of a full circle? Also how can I make his regalia (as in what pieces) can I do with as little amount of weight on him as possible. The heavier the regalia the less likely he will have the strength to dance in it. I am sorry if this all sounds dumb, but my husband is not Native and none of my family do anything with our culture. All of my "native" family are back east and I live in the Northwest. Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!

tigger · 07-05-2008, 05:52 AM

what i would suggest is to make all of the pieces applique work. it's not to heavy. or just make some simple cloth pieces.

ProudNightWolf · 07-05-2008, 02:00 PM

I seen this past summer at the Ft Ancient Celebration two young men that were prolly about 6-7 not much old if that, but there ragalia was VERY simple and easy. Maybe you could do what they had which was: Small roach, The bussel which I would do full circle if I were you, take boat shoes and wrap them in duct tape and paint them with them paint pens doing dot for mocs, and lether apron with fring cut around it over some gym shorts for there breach. So basicaly like just where some pants, if you wanted make some beaded arm bands.

danceman457 · 07-05-2008, 06:01 PM

i like the apron idea... thats what i do i have a front and back apron and i wear them on a belt.. if you want to advoid weight i would suggest no brestplate... but a nice choker that extends say 5 rows down over his chest ,a new ribbion shirt.. and for shoes... i found a pair of mocs at good will..... and the bustle.... i would do a full circle.... and turkey feathers are light so that shouldnt be a problem... also if you want so ideas.. i have a few close ups of my regalia of you would like to see them

ProudNightWolf · 07-05-2008, 06:09 PM

Dont forget him some of them little bells.

nascarboys3 · 07-06-2008, 01:13 AM

HI....Thanks for the reply! I would appreciate seeing some close ups of your regalia. As I stated in my post, my other two boys are grass dancers so this is a first for the tradish outfit for me.
Thanks again
Ellie

ProudNightWolf · 07-06-2008, 01:47 AM

This is the young male I was talking about

nascarboys3 · 07-07-2008, 02:48 PM

Thanks this gives me some ideas of what I am trying to accomplish!
Ellie

ProudNightWolf · 07-08-2008, 04:33 PM

No problem glad I could help you.

danceman457 · 07-12-2008, 10:49 PM

here are a few.... let me know if you want more

nascarboys3 · 07-13-2008, 12:55 AM

Thanks for the pics! I found a nice, simple earth toned colored native design/patterned material today that I think I will make him a new shirt and the aprons and side panels with then maybe use solid colors for the other pieces. Thanks for all who have responded.....all your advice has really helped!!!

Wakalapi · 07-16-2008, 01:08 AM

dancerman457 that's a pretty sharp lookin' rig ya got there...

and not too complicated either.

Wakalapi · 07-16-2008, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nascarboys3

Hi all. I am hoping to get some advice and help from all you traditional dancers. My youngest son will be turning six this month. He has cerebral palsy. Up until now, he has always danced in just a ribbon shirt and pants. He has now outgrown his shirt and really wants a full regalia. He wants to grass dance like his two older brothers, but due to his special needs mentioned above, I think traditional would better suit his abilities. My husband and I got a turkey this last spring and we were able to pluck MANY feathers as well as saving the entire tail fan and both wings!!! I spread the tail fan and dried it and am ready to start working with it. I wanted to use the fan as my son's bustle, but I was told that I have to take it all apart and re-attach it to a center circle. Do I really need to do this or can I leave it in it's original, natural form and let him have half instead of a full circle? Also how can I make his regalia (as in what pieces) can I do with as little amount of weight on him as possible. The heavier the regalia the less likely he will have the strength to dance in it. I am sorry if this all sounds dumb, but my husband is not Native and none of my family do anything with our culture. All of my "native" family are back east and I live in the Northwest. Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!

A bustle usually works best when the individual feathers are mounted as you were told about, and it doesn't have to be heavy. Start with a piece of thick leather or a chunk of pegboard as a center piece, tie shish-kabob skewers as extensions, then attach a feather at the end of each skewer. Use strong, but thin and pliable, leather to attach the skewers to the center piece and to secure each feather. I would wrap the leather and use strong glue. Tie a section of sinew around each skewer at the outer ends and add some large beads as spacers between them all. Two extensions pointing upward would be secured fairly stiff to use as the "spokes" or "pointers". (Sorry I don't know the latest bustle-maker-lingo for those.)

A ribbon shirt and a cloth apron/sidedrop setup would also remain fairly lightweight with that bustle. If you don't mind going pre-fab, I know of a couple of kids' size bustles down here at the Wapato and Toppenish NDN pawn shops. Andy gives me a discount for running a youth drum group, too, so they're good people to do business with.

Since you're in Spokane, you might try looking up some of the locals for help, too. Dave Brown Eagle is an MC and a dancer from up that way, you might see him at a powwow in your area. Or maybe contact the West End Youth Center on the Spokane Rez. Their MySpace addy is MySpace.com - Spokane Tribe Westend Center - 33 - Female - Spokane Reservation, Washington - www.myspace.com/spokane477wecc.

nascarboys3 · 07-16-2008, 02:55 PM

Wakalapi
Thanks a bunch for the "how-to" advice! That is great!! Yes, I know Dave Brown Eagle and have gone to him on some other regalia related questions, but I don't get many answers, just more confused...although he is a great guy and works WONDERFUL with the kids!!! I will try that myspace and see if I can get some more pics of little boy's regalia.
Thanks again!
Ellie

07-03-2008, 12:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
nascarboys3 buckskin momma Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 25	Making my son's tradish regalia Hi all. I am hoping to get some advice and help from all you traditional dancers. My youngest son will be turning six this month. He has cerebral palsy. Up until now, he has always danced in just a ribbon shirt and pants. He has now outgrown his shirt and really wants a full regalia. He wants to grass dance like his two older brothers, but due to his special needs mentioned above, I think traditional would better suit his abilities. My husband and I got a turkey this last spring and we were able to pluck MANY feathers as well as saving the entire tail fan and both wings!!! I spread the tail fan and dried it and am ready to start working with it. I wanted to use the fan as my son's bustle, but I was told that I have to take it all apart and re-attach it to a center circle. Do I really need to do this or can I leave it in it's original, natural form and let him have half instead of a full circle? Also how can I make his regalia (as in what pieces) can I do with as little amount of weight on him as possible. The heavier the regalia the less likely he will have the strength to dance in it. I am sorry if this all sounds dumb, but my husband is not Native and none of my family do anything with our culture. All of my "native" family are back east and I live in the Northwest. Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!

07-05-2008, 02:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
ProudNightWolf PROUD DANCER Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Carolina but Ohio in summer Posts: 60	I seen this past summer at the Ft Ancient Celebration two young men that were prolly about 6-7 not much old if that, but there ragalia was VERY simple and easy. Maybe you could do what they had which was: Small roach, The bussel which I would do full circle if I were you, take boat shoes and wrap them in duct tape and paint them with them paint pens doing dot for mocs, and lether apron with fring cut around it over some gym shorts for there breach. So basicaly like just where some pants, if you wanted make some beaded arm bands. __________________ Night Wolf!

07-05-2008, 06:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
danceman457 Northern Tradish Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: huntington west virginia Posts: 46	i like the apron idea... thats what i do i have a front and back apron and i wear them on a belt.. if you want to advoid weight i would suggest no brestplate... but a nice choker that extends say 5 rows down over his chest ,a new ribbion shirt.. and for shoes... i found a pair of mocs at good will..... and the bustle.... i would do a full circle.... and turkey feathers are light so that shouldnt be a problem... also if you want so ideas.. i have a few close ups of my regalia of you would like to see them __________________ WHO NEEDS A SIGNATURE?

07-05-2008, 06:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
ProudNightWolf PROUD DANCER Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Carolina but Ohio in summer Posts: 60	Dont forget him some of them little bells. __________________ Night Wolf!

07-06-2008, 01:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
ProudNightWolf PROUD DANCER Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Carolina but Ohio in summer Posts: 60	This is the young male I was talking about __________________ Night Wolf!

07-05-2008, 05:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
tigger Pow Wow Committee Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: powwows.com Posts: 6,183	what i would suggest is to make all of the pieces applique work. it's not to heavy. or just make some simple cloth pieces.

07-06-2008, 01:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
nascarboys3 buckskin momma Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 25	HI....Thanks for the reply! I would appreciate seeing some close ups of your regalia. As I stated in my post, my other two boys are grass dancers so this is a first for the tradish outfit for me. Thanks again Ellie

07-07-2008, 02:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
nascarboys3 buckskin momma Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 25	Thanks this gives me some ideas of what I am trying to accomplish! Ellie

07-08-2008, 04:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
ProudNightWolf PROUD DANCER Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Carolina but Ohio in summer Posts: 60	No problem glad I could help you. __________________ Night Wolf!

07-12-2008, 10:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
danceman457 Northern Tradish Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: huntington west virginia Posts: 46	here are a few.... let me know if you want more __________________ WHO NEEDS A SIGNATURE?

07-13-2008, 12:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
nascarboys3 buckskin momma Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 25	Thanks for the pics! I found a nice, simple earth toned colored native design/patterned material today that I think I will make him a new shirt and the aprons and side panels with then maybe use solid colors for the other pieces. Thanks for all who have responded.....all your advice has really helped!!!

07-16-2008, 01:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
Wakalapi www.wakalapi.com Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: East of the Mountains Posts: 1,283	dancerman457 that's a pretty sharp lookin' rig ya got there... and not too complicated either. __________________ "Friends don't let friends drink decaf..." Relaunched Nov 1, 2008. Completely rebuilt and easier to use than ever.

07-16-2008, 02:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
nascarboys3 buckskin momma Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 25	Wakalapi Thanks a bunch for the "how-to" advice! That is great!! Yes, I know Dave Brown Eagle and have gone to him on some other regalia related questions, but I don't get many answers, just more confused...although he is a great guy and works WONDERFUL with the kids!!! I will try that myspace and see if I can get some more pics of little boy's regalia. Thanks again! Ellie

07-19-2008, 01:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
danceman457 Northern Tradish Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: huntington west virginia Posts: 46