Sun Dancer

I have a Cherokee Tear dress pattern & material that a lady from church is going to make for me.

However, I am also descended from Kickapoo & Blackfoot, and (yes...AND [lol]) possibly Comanche.

SOOOO....
I would like to honor all these tribes in designing the Tear dress (color, ribbons, etc) and even if I find out that I don't have Comanche blood, my husband does :)

I am grateful for any and all suggestions - it is my deepest desire to honor ALL of my native ancestors, and do so tastefully, respectfully.

Wado :)

Wojapi4Me

While not a female, I feel I can speak to this as my daughter is also of two tribes (Eastern Band Cherokee/Oglala Sioux). She has pow wow outfits as well as a Cherokee dress, but she only wears the Cherokee outfit for occasions on the rez and not at pow wows. Her pow wow outfits reflect both sides of her family as she has Lakota designs (mostly family in nature) and a Cherokee family design which are all incorporated into her stuff.

The Cherokee tear dress is tribal specific and I wouldn't change it or add other tribe's influences into it. Maybe make a tear dress and a kickapoo style dress as well.

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musicedu77

well heres an example in my beadwork and even in my quill work (cuz i do both) i incorporate designs that my ma passed onto me that she got from her grandma...being that i come from 3 different tribes together(hidatsa-osage/e.blackfoot) i use all in my beadworks/quillworks because i cant just honor one ya know (but leave...its the same with making dresses... or best thing when it comes to tribal design if theres 2 or more tribes have a certain design in common then use that or use one on one dress than one on another...hope that helps...this idea that you have to choose one over the other isnt right because one than my ma always taught me is ya honor all thats in ya cuz thats whats make up ya..

CandaePrincess

you should read my thread in cloth dancing called "Intertribal Wear?". We had a discussion about just that thing.

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Mussy by birth.....Native by the Grace of God.......

Sun Dancer

What is the link to that thread?

(Old computer + Dial up = 4ever 2 find anything :( )

kgirl7

Here it is:
Intertribal wear???

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Cariblanguage.org

Sun Dancer

Thank you - so, it's 50/50 in the matter of opinions, I guess.

But I am more fond of the "traditional" & also believe that a LOT of things have become too modernized or whatever. We should honor our heritage - not "punk" it out.


I may use SUBTLE things - earrings, a piece of ribbon, or something special to represent the other tribes. My intention is to HONOR all 3 (or 4) tribes - not insult or minimize them. I LOVE my ancestors.

Does anyone have a picture of Kickapoo, Comanche, Blackfoot traditional dress/regalia?

paintedsun22

umm... yeah. If you want to incorporate the other tribes, do it through beadwork and not on the dress itself. I dunno about the other tribes but I know the Comanches are purty protective of their customs and stuff. Oh- also, it might be good if you really want to put something of the other tribes in your dress to use thier colors. That won't offend nobody so long as you don't use red (unless you are firstborn and have a right to it.)

Sun Dancer

I am firstborn - I sure didn't know there was a "significance" to it....man I really hope I don't screw this up.

This is deeply important to me...

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Indian Blessing...

Let us walk softly on the Earth
with all living things great and small
remembering as we go, that one God
wise and kind, created all.



...'nuff said.

Pathfinder

Okay, I can really relate. I'm Comanche and Cherokee. The Tear Dress, to me, is very special. I agree with practically everything written here in this thread. I use color and designs in my beadwork. But, I stick to Cherokee tradition when it comes to the Tear Dress. Eastern and Western Bands do slightly different adornments in the ribbon work, so depending what band you originate from that should be the first guideline. My Mom has made a lot of Tear Dresses. To construct a true Tear Dress is quite an undertaking. I have noticed alot of people trying to take shortcuts, and there are none. Our ancestors were meticulous in the way they did things. And, the most remarkable thing is they didn't have the really good sewing machines and stuff like we do.

Mostly, I pick good quality fabrics in colors and such that I really like. Then, just enjoy wearing it. At pow wows I usually wear it like on the first night, or during a more "casual" time. I don't compete in them to contest in, as a general rule. Anything competition oriented is geared to the Comanche style, colors, beadwork, etc.
I hope this helps. Like I stated, I totally understand where you're coming from. Its perfecly normal to want to honor all, but it can be difficult. Just kind of set your own way of doing it, and remember if your really in question talk to your elder, that's what I do.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your time dancing.

Keep dancin'!




Wado

Eagle Plumes

My thought on that is yes be true to all your Tribes cause thats what you are , but Make your Tear Dress the way it was meant to be made ,I say this Because I have a very good Friend who is a Cherokee and she really makes a fuss when she sees anything on a Tear Dress that she knows and feals does not belong on that kind of dress, her and her daughter only wear their Tear dresses when They go home for a ceremony , a Dance at home or when her daughter was crowned princess ,other than that they wear T-Dresses her daughter is also lakota and they reflect that side in bead work and satin applique . Im not sure but i know there are certain colors we dont put on things and it would not be good to put a "wrong" color on the Tear-Dress and where you are meaning to honor and it offends someone else if that makes any sence?Hope this helped a bit.

Sun Dancer

Oh, I wouldn't DREAM of not making the Tear Dress the way its intended! Nooooooo way, Jose!

I have decided to do one of two things:
(along with the help from you wonderful ppl)
1) to simply add jewelry, or a hair accessory or something.

2) OR, make this material into three shawls for me & the girls :) But now I wonder if there are any rules regarding material? This is a pretty bluish/white colors - ALMOST "sky" looking..not a pattern, per se (no clouds, suns, peacocks, horses, puppy dogs, etc).

IF I opt for the shawl idea (which would allow all three of us to participate), I was considering buying a satiny material to be the one side (the opposite side of the actual print).

What do you all think of this idea?

__________________
Indian Blessing...

Let us walk softly on the Earth
with all living things great and small
remembering as we go, that one God
wise and kind, created all.



...'nuff said.

Pathfinder

I always make it of calico fabric. Both WalMart and Hancock Fabrics have really good calico, and it's not too expensive because depending on your size it takes a good amount of fabric. I pick fabrics that mostly will have kind of a "vintage" look, and put good buttons of the same style. Coordinate your ribbons and diamonds to the fabric. Also, t-shot poplin is a good choice. They have it at Hancock Fabrics. I always avoid trendy "Indian" or "Southwest" looking fabrics. I let the dress stand on its own merits. My Father remembers the elder ladies (aunts, etc) in his family actually wearing these dresses. This was in the late 1930's and 1940's. But, then my Father lived in a area that even in the 50's people came to town in wagons, on foot, and on horseback.


Hope this helps, keep dancin"

Eagle Plumes

Ive seen ladies who wanted to represent another tribe by using a design on their shawls , and in their hair pieces whether it be hair combs ,barretts, small haities or medalion necklaces.

**jdazmum**

This is the first time I've replied to a subject like this, so I'd like to give my insight. I have seen it many times and it has been going on for decades. This I'm talking about social gatherings not ceremonial. As for powwows, it's everywhere. You can't miss it. If you look around at the dresses you'll see they are mixed and very seldom you'll see an original look nowadays. I actually am guilty of this, because my baby is mixed. She's Southern and Northern mixed. So I incorporate both into her dresses, because it's her identity. She'll know two worlds despite if I didn't want her to.

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