quicksilverwade

Hermana menor: I come from a long line of creekers from Crow Creek South Dakota from the 20th century, GEEZ. You must have something hidden deep in your heart for you not to trust arena directors, GEEZ. Who else will handle the dropping of a feather, not the powwow committee, GEEZ. And from where and when I came from, the arena director does have the final word, GEEZ. One can only suggest any whim that you desire but the arena director can negate that in a second, GEEZ.

WhoMe

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a.d. and quickS:

Granted there are some powwows that need direction and allow the arena director to take a high profile decision making role.

But in the more established powwows, the powwow committee can override their arena directors at their descretion.

At the largest of powwows, knowledgible powwow committees decide on the agenda/powwow schedule well ahead of the powwow and put it in their powwow programs.

At these powwows, individuals who wish to have a giveaway ask the powwow committee when the best time would be to fit their giveaway into "their" schedule.

storm

Not too many years ago arena director was mainly there to pick up trash, and maybe help with collecting money on a giveaway...(Having been a director often) there were very few real 'duties'. heck! the MC had more to do with decisions than the AD..But times change.....
.As for picking up feathers....this is really new! less than 20 years ago it was a Private affair between the owner and an elder, NO big deal to embarrass anyone..But in My poor opinion folks egos want more recognition so these titles get more and more (self) important.

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My bark is worse than my bite

quicksilverwade

Whome: All the different scenarios difinitely show that not all powwows are the same. I guess the arena director's ego must play a hand also. And, since I've rarely been to a powwow in southern California where the committee's insight was picture perfect, I'm out of luck unless I travel to the Mega-powwows. If you remember the breakdown between the powwow committee and arena director at the latest Indio powwow showed how a powwow can turn into a haphazard situation in which they forgot to run the contest for the junior boys northern traditional category. And if my words are in err and seem out of place, I'd glady retract everything I say, lol.

NDNQt

I have a strange question - why does some say the AD picks what drums sing what?? Since the MC has the list of who has sang what songs all throughout the powwow wouldn't he (or she!!) be responsible for the drum rotation???

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Becky B.

storm

Ok, I do not attend contest powows so this is strange and new...after 40 + years of powow it is like I don't know anything...I do not know about northern traditions.
Since when did ANYONE but the Head singer decide what to sing, except for specials?( of course I do not care for dances with more than one drum too, out in the middle where it belongs)
I have never heard ,ever, of an MC or a AD keeping track of songs or telling a drum what to sing...not in many years of being an AD or a singer.....It is common to keep track of what contest is next.
Where does this happen? cause it doesn't happen during regular dances down here in Oklahoma, although it seems things are changing fast...
When did the drum lose it's authority? Even at Hethushka /Inlonshksa the drum decides the songs and calls for water.

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My bark is worse than my bite

theepowwowchic49

with some good pair of jeans that fit in all the right places

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Friends dont let friends take home ugly Men. :huddle:

:indian1: THE DARKER THE FLESH THEN THE DEEPER THE ROOTS :indian1:

quicksilverwade

The headsinger does decide what particular song to sing. It's the MC and/or AD who decides what type of song for each respective category. In South Dakota the middle of the arena doesn't belong to a drum but instead a painted pole is placed smackdab in the middle with the colors: white, black, yellow and red. Of course if a powwow committee in South Dakota had a southern drum from Oklahoma. They'd gladly accomodate the southern drum and place them in the middle where it belongs. Storm, I wouldn't worry about a northern contamination into southern territory.



The MC or AD will use their experience when deciding what song is to be sung. The most experienced AD can and will supercede the MC and vice versa.

hoopster girl

In my experience, An arena director could have all or some of the duties mentioned previously. It really depends on where you are, how well the pow wow is planned, how well that plan is working, and who is MC, AD, whipman, committee etc. Since they all work together, if one part isn't working the others can help out. Once I've been to pow wow where one of the whipmen put the dancers in order for grand entry because no one knew who the Arena Director was (Or where he was). As a side note, Most of the time I ask the MC for a hoop song, at this same powwow it was noted that anyone wanting a special song should ask the AD. . ..and I didn't even know who he was or what he looked like. ...

Hoopster

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ooo.. shiny

little sister

Then err to you! LOL I HOPE I CAN TRUST AD'S AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HEART TO HAVE SOMETHING HIDDEN DEEP IN IT. JUST JOKIN CAUSE I'M IN A JOKIN MOOD TODAY. SERIOUSLY, You read so much on the net and some of the questions sound just plain stupid sometimes. Not saying you are stupid or anyone else for that matter but come on...As for the dropping of a feather...ask your elders. This wasn't always something done at pow wows until recent years. The AD does assist with matters of this sort but it's up to the family. The AD ain't part of Barnum & Bailey I hope but I think they were called ring masters? Questions from newcomers are good since asking questions is how we all learn.

quicksilverwade

Yes I have erred and I apologize. Kudos to you for not being an idea hopper such as I.

NAPEW

Plain and simple man a friggin AD who knows what he's doing and working with the entire committee including whipman if there is 1, all the judges drum and dancing, MC all them. I've been to powwows where there was chaos no flow and it sucked man these were powwos without a AD. Go figure

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We want a lady on the streets but a freak in the bed!

little sister

Shucks that's okay. No harm done. FRIENDS?

quicksilverwade

Of course, friends till the end.