uw_n8iv

How common is it for somebody on the Powwow Committee to offer tobacco to the drums?

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blacktail

don't know about the powwow committee, but here in the east, when drums are at a powwow they will offer tobacco before they sing. the tobacco is offered to the four winds and the creator, then placed on the drum in the four directions and at the center for the creator. then as the drumming and singing begins, the tobacco falls to the earth, and thus it is also an offering to the earth.

storm

Do you mean like smokes for the singers?
That is very normal down here, plus folks give away smokes to them.
Putting Tobacco on the drum or the ground as a blessing is pretty rare at regular old powows as these are not sacred events, but times change there are probably dances down here doing that now.

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Kiwehnzii

It's very common around the Great Lakes to give a gift of tobacco to not only the singers but also head staff as a way of saying thanks for accepting our invitation to come to our powwow. Smokes are offered to those who smoke at some powwows. I haven't seen this particular ceremony that you describe Blactail.

Dancin by the bay

Giving toabacco is given to drums and committees and some times dancing people too but what kind is best to give. Regular cancer sticks like marlburos? I’ve seen regular tobaccos not in cigerate form given. But what kind of tobacco is best liked. Singers what do you prefer when given tobacco. I see the drummers smoking but its usually cigerates and not the rolled toboaco that alot these singers get.

:dontknow:

storm

99% of the time in OK they just get Generic butts, sometimes, if someone is a NAC person they will be given commercial loose tobacco.
Loose Tobacco is an important component of ceremony, "Indian tobacco" is RARELy even discussed in public never shown or used publicly( and I will not go into it here). I think most folks down here would agree Commercial cigarettes are just Butts, nothing sacred.( at least they did not used to Be)
I suspect those groups without Indian tobacco may treat commercial tobacco differently. I have seen folks so pitiful they had to buy regular cigarettes and tear them up for loose tobacco.

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WhoMe

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uw_n:

Tobacco offerings are still extremely common in powwow country. However, because we live in modern times, cigarettes (more often than not) have taken the place of traditional twisted and loose tobacco.

This is most often expressed in giveaways and as part of the powwow committee honorarium. Most often, a carton of cigarettes is included with a gift/honorarium. Even members of our drum who do not smoke, accept tobacco when it is offered.

When our drum gets a whistle, it is extremely common for a whistleman to give us cigarettes (usually four) with an honorarium or we have had tobacco sprinked on our drum - after we render the four requested pushups.

billyjoejimbob

Ones in the east I have been to I have seen cartons of cheap cigs, twists, leaves, pipe tobacco, rolling tobacco. At one dance some kept throwning handfuls on our drum when we went to dance.

I have given cartons of smokes in the past but it is getting too expensive. Legal tobacco is soon going to be more expensive than wacky tobacky. "Can I have a nickel bag of camel please?"

storm

[quote=billyjoejimbob]Ones in the east I have been to I have seen cartons of cheap cigs, twists, leaves, pipe tobacco, rolling tobacco. At one dance some kept throwning handfuls on our drum when we went to dance.


Someone explain to this poor dumb southern Indian why anyone would "throw" tobacco at you our your drum. I think we would pack up a get outa dodge if they did that....I mean scary stuff, throwing medicine at people...Does this happen a lot..You guys out there are pretty trusting. ( i am not)
I know there are many tribes that still take this seriously...???

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billyjoejimbob

I wasnt worried about it, it was a wacky womans drum group doing it. They did it to everyones drum actually. At least it wasnt the stuff they were found smoking in the parking lot later.

And by the way Storm, I sing northern but go both ways when it comes to dancing...and dancing only! It just happens that I know tons of southern boys that got me involved.

"Can;t we all just get along?" (my smilys arent working for some reason but insert the laughing smily here)

Kakeeya

Please clarify going both ways...... Lol j/k

Southernstr8

How I was brought up, was that each drum is presented a "pouch" of tobacco. These days we use a commercial pouch tobacco, usually Top, or if we are feeling really rich we may give American Spirit. Now these gifts aren't given to the head dancer rather placed on the drum, then shaking the hand of each singer. The drum in turn use that tobacco to pray over their drum and bless it for the comming days singing.

We also make gifts of tobacco to other people as well, special performers, for us it's usually a native dance group, the elder/veteran providing the opening prayer. My understanding of this is, you don't ask something of someone without offering something in return.

Anyone care to add to this? Feel free I don't claim to be anywhere near an expert in these matters. :)

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hoov4450

When we give tabacco it's usually for something extra special that someone has done for you and your family. Money, blankets, shawls, and other items are fine, for giveaways and other occasions to give someone a thank-you. But for something special you'll give someone some tobacco folded inside a handkerchief. and i've seen both used loose and packed used.

blacktail