Crowns??? Who really has the right to wear them all the time?

BearGS · 12-23-2004, 10:19 AM

I have heard so many different things in our travels around the country.
Southern style buckskin and cloth, this is what I was told and I am not stating this is what I know for fact.

#1 They are from the cheif clan and they can wear the crowns...
#2 They were princess and they can continue to wear them if they choose too.

Those are the two things I was told, is there any truth to that? someone help me out.

Nothern style buckskin, I dont know why I see so many girls and teens wearing crowns but they do? Are they mimicing the southern style dancers?
Both my girl are princesses here in Wisconsin, but when their term is up, they have to give up that title and any right to wear their crown.

So I guess what I want help with is why women wear their crowns and for what purpose. I guess if this is just fashion then I dont agree with it because I am inclined to follow tradition and I dont think its okay... but since there were traditionally no princess in Native American culture, is there really any rules that should be followed? Well anyway, I feel that regardless of anything my daughters will not be allowed to wear their crowns unless they retain their titles.

AlmostThere · 12-23-2004, 12:34 PM

its so crazy. I've seen so many women who wear crowns. Back in the day I remember when I only seen crowns on a few women. Now a day, I think it more for the look and style than the cause.

**chazziff** · 12-23-2004, 02:45 PM

not sure bout this either - i'm equally confused - i've been told that you shouldn't wear a crown unless you have that "right" (being a princess, etc.). but i've seen grown women who just started dancing in their later years wearing crowns. beginning to think it's becoming the "new style"

Sinte_Gleska_04 · 12-24-2004, 04:20 AM

I dont know much about the Crowns in the Southern Style, but I know if you are a princess in the Northern Style than you have to give up your crown after a year. I do see come women still wearing their princess crowns after a year. I don't see why because there is a new princess wearing the same crown but just made differently. I was only a princess for two years. When my time was up I retired my titles. I didnt become a princess just to wear the crowns and look pretty. I wore the crowns to represent my tribe and college.

little sister · 12-27-2004, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinte_Gleska_04

I dont know much about the Crowns in the Southern Style, but I know if you are a princess in the Northern Style than you have to give up your crown after a year. I do see come women still wearing their princess crowns after a year. I don't see why because there is a new princess wearing the same crown but just made differently. I was only a princess for two years. When my time was up I retired my titles. I didnt become a princess just to wear the crowns and look pretty. I wore the crowns to represent my tribe and college.

Beaded or silver? With tribal emblem/ other organization emblem or without? Personally, I hate seeing girls/women over 30 wearing ANY crown. This is only my opinion.( I know I'll get some ugly replies) Until the past 15 years or so I don't recall many Northern women wearing crowns unless they were a chosen princess of some kind. In early days,(in some tribes) the southern women wore otter hats or special feathers or plumes that showed rank. Many of these were daughters of chiefs or of some clan. All in all, crowns of any kind should represent honor. And..I have to agree, that today crowns are worn mostly for looks. Times have changed alot.

BearGS · 12-27-2004, 04:26 PM

I guess the biggest problem I have with this being fashion is that my 12 year old wants to keep wearing her crown, I have to push my feelings onto her and say that she cant.... it makes me feel bad but what can I do?...... I follow tradition and thats what I was taught....

little sister · 12-27-2004, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearGS

I guess the biggest problem I have with this being fashion is that my 12 year old wants to keep wearing her crown, I have to push my feelings onto her and say that she cant.... it makes me feel bad but what can I do?...... I follow tradition and thats what I was taught....

Follow your traditions....following your ways makes you strong. In time your little girl will understand. Very few follow what they were taught by their elders and listen to the "Johnny come latelys". Our traditions were handed down for a reason.....you sound like a mom that not only wants to keep her daughter happy and be traditional. It's hard to do but do what you feel best for you. In a few years, this fad will pass too just like it did before.

**NDNKIDZ** · 12-27-2004, 06:14 PM

my daughter has 2 crowns from being a princess.. after her year was up she stopped wearing them.. even though all the girls wear them she choses not to wear hers.. I was taught that if you were a former princess you could wear them but it seemed like she was taking away from the new princess .. so we do what we believe verses the fads of powwows today.. :)

little sister · 12-28-2004, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NDNKIDZ

my daughter has 2 crowns from being a princess.. after her year was up she stopped wearing them.. even though all the girls wear them she choses not to wear hers.. I was taught that if you were a former princess you could wear them but it seemed like she was taking away from the new princess .. so we do what we believe verses the fads of powwows today.. :)

hmmmmm. Get her one of her own and not the ones she wore while being princess???? Sounds like a solution but like I said to Bear, do what you feel is best.

Fancy Maiden · 12-29-2004, 05:13 PM

I am a princess, and the crown i wear is passed down to the next princess. When I got the crown i was told that after my reign i could wear any crown i wanted from then on to represent my title. But thats just what i was told.

hoov4450 · 01-06-2005, 02:38 PM

a crown is made for "you" and that is your's for life. After your time a princess is over it is your right to wear it till you die.That is why they say "the reigning powwow princess..." cause you may have more than one princess at a powwow that represented that group. now if you dishonnored yourself and that group and your title is taken then you better not be seen wearing a crown cause it's "not good"!around here most people know who has been a princess and who has not. a girl wouldn't just wear a crown, Hopefully her parents would teach her right.

Fancy Maiden · 01-06-2005, 03:31 PM

I actually knew a girl that said she was a princess just because she wanted to be and her mom made her crown! Havent seen her since they and that was about 6-7 years ago.

**Furiously-Fancy** · 01-06-2005, 03:46 PM

I got this birthday crown when I was in the 1st grade...and I wear it every day.HE HE!! Like Jughead in the Archie comics! I wear it all the time and I have the right cuz I got it 4 my birthday! Ha! HA!

12-23-2004, 10:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
BearGS Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: In a RV... Posts: 8	Crowns??? Who really has the right to wear them all the time? I have heard so many different things in our travels around the country. Southern style buckskin and cloth, this is what I was told and I am not stating this is what I know for fact. #1 They are from the cheif clan and they can wear the crowns... #2 They were princess and they can continue to wear them if they choose too. Those are the two things I was told, is there any truth to that? someone help me out. Nothern style buckskin, I dont know why I see so many girls and teens wearing crowns but they do? Are they mimicing the southern style dancers? Both my girl are princesses here in Wisconsin, but when their term is up, they have to give up that title and any right to wear their crown. So I guess what I want help with is why women wear their crowns and for what purpose. I guess if this is just fashion then I dont agree with it because I am inclined to follow tradition and I dont think its okay... but since there were traditionally no princess in Native American culture, is there really any rules that should be followed? Well anyway, I feel that regardless of anything my daughters will not be allowed to wear their crowns unless they retain their titles. Last edited by BearGS; 12-27-2004 at 04:30 PM.

12-23-2004, 12:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
AlmostThere The Original OP CREW Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 971	its so crazy. I've seen so many women who wear crowns. Back in the day I remember when I only seen crowns on a few women. Now a day, I think it more for the look and style than the cause. __________________ blah blah blah....

12-23-2004, 02:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
chazziff got me beggin ya 4 mercy Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sneakin food to da Marine in my closet in the Big Blue House on Da Hill Posts: 4,936	not sure bout this either - i'm equally confused - i've been told that you shouldn't wear a crown unless you have that "right" (being a princess, etc.). but i've seen grown women who just started dancing in their later years wearing crowns. beginning to think it's becoming the "new style" __________________ The sun will shine, This i swear, This i swear, This i swear ~~METALLICA~~

12-24-2004, 04:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sinte_Gleska_04 ~Jingle Dress~ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Dakota Posts: 29	Crowns I dont know much about the Crowns in the Southern Style, but I know if you are a princess in the Northern Style than you have to give up your crown after a year. I do see come women still wearing their princess crowns after a year. I don't see why because there is a new princess wearing the same crown but just made differently. I was only a princess for two years. When my time was up I retired my titles. I didnt become a princess just to wear the crowns and look pretty. I wore the crowns to represent my tribe and college.

12-27-2004, 06:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
NDNKIDZ JIMMY HENDRIX ROYALTY Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 1,144	my daughter has 2 crowns from being a princess.. after her year was up she stopped wearing them.. even though all the girls wear them she choses not to wear hers.. I was taught that if you were a former princess you could wear them but it seemed like she was taking away from the new princess .. so we do what we believe verses the fads of powwows today.. :) __________________ "I don't mind coming to work, > But that eight hour wait to go home is a BITE."

12-27-2004, 04:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
BearGS Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: In a RV... Posts: 8	I guess the biggest problem I have with this being fashion is that my 12 year old wants to keep wearing her crown, I have to push my feelings onto her and say that she cant.... it makes me feel bad but what can I do?...... I follow tradition and thats what I was taught....

12-29-2004, 05:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
Fancy Maiden Junior Dancer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 179	I am a princess, and the crown i wear is passed down to the next princess. When I got the crown i was told that after my reign i could wear any crown i wanted from then on to represent my title. But thats just what i was told. __________________ Why we dance......... we dance to pray, we pray to heal, we heal to live, we live to dance!

01-06-2005, 02:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
hoov4450 Teen Dancer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: lincoln,nebraska Posts: 340	a crown is made for "you" and that is your's for life. After your time a princess is over it is your right to wear it till you die.That is why they say "the reigning powwow princess..." cause you may have more than one princess at a powwow that represented that group. now if you dishonnored yourself and that group and your title is taken then you better not be seen wearing a crown cause it's "not good"!around here most people know who has been a princess and who has not. a girl wouldn't just wear a crown, Hopefully her parents would teach her right.

01-06-2005, 03:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
Fancy Maiden Junior Dancer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 179	I actually knew a girl that said she was a princess just because she wanted to be and her mom made her crown! Havent seen her since they and that was about 6-7 years ago. __________________ Why we dance......... we dance to pray, we pray to heal, we heal to live, we live to dance!

01-06-2005, 03:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
Furiously-Fancy PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Washakie,WY Posts: 3,902	I got this birthday crown when I was in the 1st grade...and I wear it every day.HE HE!! Like Jughead in the Archie comics! I wear it all the time and I have the right cuz I got it 4 my birthday! Ha! HA! __________________ "I'd rather be @ a POW-WOW!"

01-06-2005, 10:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
middle of the sky M...O...T...to the S! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: westcoast Posts: 18,702 Blog Entries: 9