Kaylin

Hello there. :)

I had originally posted this in the spectator forum, but it hasn't been approved after two or three days. I figured perhaps the question would be more appropriate here.

Hard to know where exactly to start here, so I'll try my best and hope that someone reading this will understand what I'm getting at.

I'm going to be attending another Pow Wow within the next month (I say another, because it technically isn't my first. I think I'm starting to become a Pow-wow junkie.) and I have a question I'd like to have answered before I go. I've read through numerous Pow Wow Etiquette listings and didn't quite seen anything inr egards to my question.

What types of gifts are appropriate to give Dancers and Singers? I was thinking that water would certianly be appriciated (Those Jingle Dresses can get pretty heavy!) but I'm not sure if it would be appropriate or not. Is there anything in specific that I should NOT give as a gift?

I know I could always ask the MC or the Arena directors, but Forewarned is forearmed, right?

Thanks in advance for the replies, I appriciate the help.

~Kaylin

Eagle Plumes

for what occ are you wanting to gift?

Kaylin

Gift giving has to be done for a special occassion?

No special occasion, just as a thank you.

~Kaylin

Eagle Plumes

WhoMe

Kaylin,

Tobacco and/or a monetary donation are always appreciated.

You have a good heart!

__________________
"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

Kaylin

Thank you Eagle Plumes and WhoMe for your responses.
I already have some money set aside to donate to the drum for sure. :)

Part of the reason I'm going is to honour my Papa, who passed away at the end of last year. He was Cree metis, and he really enjoyed going to pow-wow's when he was in better health. I remember him saying something about tobacco, about certian brands being more appriciated than others? And now for the life of me I can't remember what brand it was.
The other Part is that I just like going. :) It's an amazing event to see and I can certianly appriciate the hard work that goes into a Pow-wow, from all sides. I could go on...but I won't. All of you here already know what I'm talking about anyway. :)

Is there anything that's Not appropriate?

~Kaylin

Eagle Plumes

when we gift tobacco I either give carton of cigs or I make up tobacco ties to use for blessing or a prayer and seem to be recieved very welll you are kind to do this!

Kaylin

Tobacco Ties....are they like sweetgrass braids? I have an abundance of that too.

~Kaylin

Eagle Plumes

ties are little squares of fabric I like to use red but you use what you have with a healthy tablspoon of tobacco in it twisted into a pouch like ball and i tied mine with sinew , I carefully hold the square with the tobacco and litely push it threw my index finger and my thoumb and give it a twist and tie it off, Ive given this to drums ingift baskets, had them handy just incase somebody feals the need to have some tobacco and we use pipe tobacco of any kind i like the sweet smelling but thats just cause I like the smell oh and a tip to pretty em up a bit I like cut the squares with pinking sheers. hope i wasnt to confusing lol

Eagle Plumes

sweet grass braids would be nice too.

Kaylin

Oh! Like little sachets! I get it!
That's an awesome idea and I have LOADS of red linen left over from a project I made for a friend of mine a few monthes ago. :)
I also like the smell of pipe tobacco. :) You know you can get that stuff with flavours now? Like black cherry, peach, vanilla and a few other flavours. I've never tried them myself but gosh they smell good.

Thanks for the tip!

~Kaylin

TKMJ Productions

Kaylin,

Gifts or tokens are a nice way to say thankyou to any drum or dancer. I always carry a few dozen or so boxes of "Top" tobacco in our "tin tipi" (motor home) for those special gifts of thanks. Each box costs around a buck and a half in US dollars. It's a nice gift to give or receive at a powwow.

As a sound guy, I get gifted a lot by the drums, dancers, MC, and others who think the sound system is sounds great. I also give a lot of gifts to others just because something moved me in a good way.

Tobacco is your best bet for a token gift. It also works when you want to ask a question to a drummer or dancer, or have a special request for the arena director or head vet.

"Hear the Voice and Feel the Drum", It's Our Way!

Ken
TKMJ Productions

Eagle Plumes

Im glad youlike the tobacco tie idea and TkMj is rite they are good for when you have a question and several other things mentioned, I like vanilla and black cherry I keep a vanilla one in my closit cause I like the smell.

TKMJ Productions

The tobacco I get as gifts is never used used for general smoking. I'll buy a pack of smokes for that. Sometimes I'll pull out my store bought pipe for a smoke around the fire at night when we tell stories and have good family times. I buy that tobacco myself as well.

Eagle Plumes is correct in the way the vanilla and black cherry smell. Sure is nice. Smokes well too!

Ken

Kaylin

Thanks TKMJ!

I think I will definately be going with the tobacco suggestions, and fancy them up a bit as Eagle Plumes suggested.

Thank-you. :)

~Kaylin

TKMJ Productions