Greetings from Red Earth

Paul G · 05-25-2004, 03:06 PM

Greetings to All Dancers in Indian Country!

I am so excited to write to you today about this year’s Red Earth Festival, to be held June 4 – 6 at the Oklahoma State Fairpark, Oklahoma City.

A lot of you have written, called and emailed us your ideas and thoughts about the Festival and we have listened!

Some of the exciting things happening this year include . . . .

Out of respect for our dancers, our dancer ticket price (for all dancers) will be $20. This ticket will be in the form of a 3-day ticket that will be torn off daily and will allow you into all events/entries including the evening performances. Once your ticket is torn you will receive a hand stamp to allow numerous entries all day and evening. Your number alone will not allow entry into the building, so keep track of your ticket!

We know you are traveling with your kids, and it can get expensive to bring them to a Festival like this. In an effort to help our dancer families, admission is free for the first 500 children 18 & under on Friday.

With early registration allowed on Thursday, I encourage all families with competing children 18 & under to register early so their children may attend the Festival for free.

Please tell all your friends that the first 1000 children 18 & under will be allowed in free on Saturday and the first 500 on Sunday.

We’ve increased our prize money from $58,000 to over $78,000! You now have a better chance than ever to take home prize money at Red Earth.

On Saturday June 5, 2004 we are going to have an Extreme Fancy Dance Challenge with a $1000 grand prize.

We are also hosting a Rookie Invitational, which will feature 10 of the top young up-and-coming dancers ages 18-21, both male and female.

Our southern emcee Sammy White will host a special Women’s Cloth Dance contest in memory of his beloved wife Vinita “Bunny” White. Four places will be recognized with 1st place going home with $800.

We have invited six top-notch drum groups (three Southern and three Northern drums) to this year’s Festival. They include: Southern Boys, Lawton, OK

WhiteTail, Macy, Nebraska

Yellowhammer, Ponca City, OK

Midnite Express, Redby, MN

Mesquakie Nation, Tama, IA

Battle River, Bemidji, MN

We know you don’t want to spend all your time dancing and would like to have a little fun after the competition. We initially planned the American Indian Dance Theater to perform, but we were unable to acquire them for this year. While very disappointed, our hard working dance committee came up with another suggestion.

We are proud to announce that INDIGENOUS, the internationally known rock/blues band will perform on Friday evening starting at 7:00 p.m.

This band has a huge following and I encourage you to come and hear their great music if you have never heard them before. They are booked every weekend throughout the United States and we are excited to host them on the first day of Red Earth.

A highlight of the Festival will be Mr. Paul Gowder of PowWows.com broadcasting the Festival live on the PowWows.com website. This is the first time that something like this has ever been done, and we’d like to thank Mr. Gowder and his fine staff for hosting this very important “first.” Remember, even if your mom can’t attend Red Earth, she can watch you on the PowWows.com website.

We have so much planned! I’m running out of space, and I haven’t even begun to tell you about our children’s activities, adult art competition and so much more. Enclosed please check out our schedule of events or log on to www.redearth.org for more details.

I sincerely hope you are able to attend this year’s dance competition and revamped Red Earth Festival and thank you for your time. God Bless you and yours during your travels in Indian Country.

Sincerely,
Dee Ann Alexander, (Cheyenne-Arapaho)
Executive Director

roundabout · 05-26-2004, 09:08 AM

will thats nice, but you didnt say how many more places you will be adding, will there be more than 5 places if so good, you will probably get more dancers, and what is the prize money now. glad you accomidated families with children, now maybe more people will plan to attend, as last time i talked to dancers, none were planing to come to your powwow since the 30 dollars was too much and the politics were numerious, maybe you should think about changing your head staff next year. thanks :explode:

Paul G · 05-26-2004, 09:42 AM

PowWows.com will be broadcasting Red Earth live on the site Friday June 4th.

I will have links here on the forums and on the main page to watch the video.

sltate · 05-26-2004, 10:51 AM

Thank you Ms. Alexander for your kind and informative invitation. Please be encouraged that several of our family and friends from up in the north country are planning to attend this event, mainly due to the age group splits(if anyone would go to the website and see the breakdown of categories before placing judgment on this committee). This is the very FIRST time any major pow wow in Oklahoma has acknowledged the difference in the dance styles by age category. They do this up in the north country and have also done this at Schemitzun, but never in Oklahoma. As a dancer, I appreciate this accommodation to our dancers.
Be encouraged that the changes you are making are positive and even though we have always attended Red Earth as a family, we are even more excited to attend this year.
The drum groups selected are excellent and I understand they have turned down other commitments to attend Red Earth this year. So, the singing should be excellent and isn't that the heartbeat of the pow wow anyway? I would travel to dance to a good drum anytime! LOL

robsjinglebell · 05-26-2004, 04:47 PM

Wow, I can't wait to watch!! :canada:

Paul G · 06-01-2004, 10:05 AM

Remember the broadcast will be this Friday!!

FancyStar · 06-03-2004, 09:05 AM

Got this off their web site!

CATEGORIES

Tiny Tots 0-6 yrs All Groups

Jr. Boys 7-12 yrs Straight/Traditional Grass/Fancy
Jr. Girls 7-12 yrs Buckskin/Cloth-Fancy/Jingle

Teen Boys 13 -18 yrs Straight-Traditional-Grass-Fancy
Teen Girls 13 -18 yrs Northern/Southern Buckskin-Cloth-Fancy-Jingle

Jr. Adult Men 19 -34 yrs Straight-Northern Traditional-Grass-Fancy-Northern Fancy
Jr. Adult Women 19 -34 yrs Southern Buckskin-Southern Cloth-Fancy-Jingle-Northern Traditional

Adult Men 35 - 54 Straight-Northern Traditional-Grass-Fancy-Northern Fancy
Adult Women 35 - 54 Southern Buckskin-Southern Cloth-Fancy-Jingle-Northern
Traditional

Sr. Adult Men/Southern 55+ All Groups
Sr. Adult Men/Northern 55+ All Groups

Chicken Dance 19+

(Some categories will be combined if there are no more than 6 dancers participating)

DANCE COMPETITION AWARDS

Jr. Adult / Adult / Sr. Adult -Men and Women
1st - $1000, 2nd - $800, 3rd - $600, 4th - $400
Jr. Boys / Girls
1st - $200, 2nd - $150, 3rd - $100, 4th - $50
Teen Boys / Girls
1st - $300, 2nd - $200, 3rd - $100, 4th - $75
Chicken Dance
1st - $1000, 2nd - $800, 3rd - $600, 4th - $400

INVITED DRUMS
Yellowhammer, Ponca City, OK
Southern Boys, Lawton, OK
Midnite Express, Redby, MN
WhiteTail, Macy, NE

ARENA STAFF
Southern MC - Sammy “Tone-kei” White, Anadarko, OK
Northern MC - Bill Crouse, Salamanca, NY

Head Arena Director
Derek Reeder, Oklahoma City, OK

Arena Assistants
Roberta Davilla Ware, Wichita, KS
Mechelle Aitson-Roessler, Oklahoma City, OK
Bill Takes Horse, Colbert, OK

Color Guard Tinker Inter-Tribal Color Guard, TAFB/Midwest City, OK

Oklahoma State Fair Arena (indoors)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2004
12:00 pm Red Earth Grand Entry of Dance Competitors

1:00 – 6:00 pm Dance Competition
Junior Boys/Girls
Tiny Tots
Teen Boys/Girls

5:00 – 7:00 pm Break

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004
12:00 pm Red Earth Grand Entry of Dance Competitors

12:30 pm Dance Awards Presentation for the Junior Boys/Girls

1:00 – 6:00 pm Dance Competition
Tiny Tots
Teen Boys/Girls
Jr. Adult Ladies/Men
Adult Ladies/Men
Sr. Adult Ladies/Men
Men's Chicken Dance

5:00 – 7:00 pm Break

7:00 pm Extreme Fancy Dance Challenge & Rookie Invitational

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2004
12:00 pm Red Earth Grand Entry of Dance Competitors

1:00 – 8:00 pm Dance Competition
Jr. Adult Ladies/Men
Adult Ladies/Men
Sr. Adult Ladies/Men
Men's Chicken Dance
Dance Award Presentations

All Dance Winners must be in Full Dress!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPECIAL CONTESTS

Special Women’s Cloth Dance Contest
Sponsored by Tone-kei's Family
In memory of Vinita "Bunny" White
1st - $800, 2nd - $500, 3rd - $300, 4th - Hand-made Pendlecoat

No Drugs or Alcohol Allowed

Paul G · 06-04-2004, 01:13 PM

30 minutes to go!

Red Earth Live

Paul G · 06-04-2004, 07:01 PM

It's been great so far!

Over 700 people have watch today.

Stay tuned for the Indigenous!

Mato Winyan · 06-04-2004, 07:34 PM

We have video!! Woooooo Hoooooooo!!! :bouncy: :clap: :bouncy: Congrats Boss!! Crossed another milestone!!

I'm watching chairs being set up at the powwow with a friend in Chicago!

Paul G · 06-04-2004, 07:59 PM

This band coming up rocks, so stay online!!

Mato Winyan · 06-04-2004, 08:08 PM

WE HAVE SOUND!!!! :Thumbs

05-25-2004, 03:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul G Webmaster Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 14,457 Blog Entries: 1	Greetings from Red Earth Greetings to All Dancers in Indian Country! I am so excited to write to you today about this year’s Red Earth Festival, to be held June 4 – 6 at the Oklahoma State Fairpark, Oklahoma City. A lot of you have written, called and emailed us your ideas and thoughts about the Festival and we have listened! Some of the exciting things happening this year include . . . . Out of respect for our dancers, our dancer ticket price (for all dancers) will be $20. This ticket will be in the form of a 3-day ticket that will be torn off daily and will allow you into all events/entries including the evening performances. Once your ticket is torn you will receive a hand stamp to allow numerous entries all day and evening. Your number alone will not allow entry into the building, so keep track of your ticket! We know you are traveling with your kids, and it can get expensive to bring them to a Festival like this. In an effort to help our dancer families, admission is free for the first 500 children 18 & under on Friday. With early registration allowed on Thursday, I encourage all families with competing children 18 & under to register early so their children may attend the Festival for free. Please tell all your friends that the first 1000 children 18 & under will be allowed in free on Saturday and the first 500 on Sunday. We’ve increased our prize money from $58,000 to over $78,000! You now have a better chance than ever to take home prize money at Red Earth. On Saturday June 5, 2004 we are going to have an Extreme Fancy Dance Challenge with a $1000 grand prize. We are also hosting a Rookie Invitational, which will feature 10 of the top young up-and-coming dancers ages 18-21, both male and female. Our southern emcee Sammy White will host a special Women’s Cloth Dance contest in memory of his beloved wife Vinita “Bunny” White. Four places will be recognized with 1st place going home with $800. We have invited six top-notch drum groups (three Southern and three Northern drums) to this year’s Festival. They include: Southern Boys, Lawton, OK WhiteTail, Macy, Nebraska Yellowhammer, Ponca City, OK Midnite Express, Redby, MN Mesquakie Nation, Tama, IA Battle River, Bemidji, MN We know you don’t want to spend all your time dancing and would like to have a little fun after the competition. We initially planned the American Indian Dance Theater to perform, but we were unable to acquire them for this year. While very disappointed, our hard working dance committee came up with another suggestion. We are proud to announce that INDIGENOUS, the internationally known rock/blues band will perform on Friday evening starting at 7:00 p.m. This band has a huge following and I encourage you to come and hear their great music if you have never heard them before. They are booked every weekend throughout the United States and we are excited to host them on the first day of Red Earth. A highlight of the Festival will be Mr. Paul Gowder of PowWows.com broadcasting the Festival live on the PowWows.com website. This is the first time that something like this has ever been done, and we’d like to thank Mr. Gowder and his fine staff for hosting this very important “first.” Remember, even if your mom can’t attend Red Earth, she can watch you on the PowWows.com website. We have so much planned! I’m running out of space, and I haven’t even begun to tell you about our children’s activities, adult art competition and so much more. Enclosed please check out our schedule of events or log on to www.redearth.org for more details. I sincerely hope you are able to attend this year’s dance competition and revamped Red Earth Festival and thank you for your time. God Bless you and yours during your travels in Indian Country. Sincerely, Dee Ann Alexander, (Cheyenne-Arapaho) Executive Director __________________ New to the site--Introduce Yourself Need Help--FAQ--Search Feedback--Post your suggestions MyTribalSpace.com \| NativeGatherings.com \| PowWows.com Podcast \| Indigitunes.com NativeSeek.com \| Pow Wow TV \| Pow Wow Radio \| NativeMusicSource.com Radio \| NDN411.com \| eSnag Online Dating

05-26-2004, 09:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Paul G Webmaster Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 14,457 Blog Entries: 1	PowWows.com will be broadcasting Red Earth live on the site Friday June 4th. I will have links here on the forums and on the main page to watch the video. __________________ New to the site--Introduce Yourself Need Help--FAQ--Search Feedback--Post your suggestions MyTribalSpace.com \| NativeGatherings.com \| PowWows.com Podcast \| Indigitunes.com NativeSeek.com \| Pow Wow TV \| Pow Wow Radio \| NativeMusicSource.com Radio \| NDN411.com \| eSnag Online Dating

05-26-2004, 04:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
robsjinglebell Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: duchess, Alberta Posts: 17	Wow, I can't wait to watch!! :canada: __________________ My 1st 90 point ride! I think I'll remember it!

06-01-2004, 10:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
Paul G Webmaster Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 14,457 Blog Entries: 1	Remember the broadcast will be this Friday!! __________________ New to the site--Introduce Yourself Need Help--FAQ--Search Feedback--Post your suggestions MyTribalSpace.com \| NativeGatherings.com \| PowWows.com Podcast \| Indigitunes.com NativeSeek.com \| Pow Wow TV \| Pow Wow Radio \| NativeMusicSource.com Radio \| NDN411.com \| eSnag Online Dating

06-03-2004, 09:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
FancyStar What Will Be Will Be Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cherokee,NC USA Posts: 580	Got this off their web site! CATEGORIES Tiny Tots 0-6 yrs All Groups Jr. Boys 7-12 yrs Straight/Traditional Grass/Fancy Jr. Girls 7-12 yrs Buckskin/Cloth-Fancy/Jingle Teen Boys 13 -18 yrs Straight-Traditional-Grass-Fancy Teen Girls 13 -18 yrs Northern/Southern Buckskin-Cloth-Fancy-Jingle Jr. Adult Men 19 -34 yrs Straight-Northern Traditional-Grass-Fancy-Northern Fancy Jr. Adult Women 19 -34 yrs Southern Buckskin-Southern Cloth-Fancy-Jingle-Northern Traditional Adult Men 35 - 54 Straight-Northern Traditional-Grass-Fancy-Northern Fancy Adult Women 35 - 54 Southern Buckskin-Southern Cloth-Fancy-Jingle-Northern Traditional Sr. Adult Men/Southern 55+ All Groups Sr. Adult Men/Northern 55+ All Groups Chicken Dance 19+ (Some categories will be combined if there are no more than 6 dancers participating) DANCE COMPETITION AWARDS Jr. Adult / Adult / Sr. Adult -Men and Women 1st - $1000, 2nd - $800, 3rd - $600, 4th - $400 Jr. Boys / Girls 1st - $200, 2nd - $150, 3rd - $100, 4th - $50 Teen Boys / Girls 1st - $300, 2nd - $200, 3rd - $100, 4th - $75 Chicken Dance 1st - $1000, 2nd - $800, 3rd - $600, 4th - $400 INVITED DRUMS Yellowhammer, Ponca City, OK Southern Boys, Lawton, OK Midnite Express, Redby, MN WhiteTail, Macy, NE ARENA STAFF Southern MC - Sammy “Tone-kei” White, Anadarko, OK Northern MC - Bill Crouse, Salamanca, NY Head Arena Director Derek Reeder, Oklahoma City, OK Arena Assistants Roberta Davilla Ware, Wichita, KS Mechelle Aitson-Roessler, Oklahoma City, OK Bill Takes Horse, Colbert, OK Color Guard Tinker Inter-Tribal Color Guard, TAFB/Midwest City, OK Oklahoma State Fair Arena (indoors) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2004 12:00 pm Red Earth Grand Entry of Dance Competitors 1:00 – 6:00 pm Dance Competition Junior Boys/Girls Tiny Tots Teen Boys/Girls 5:00 – 7:00 pm Break -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 12:00 pm Red Earth Grand Entry of Dance Competitors 12:30 pm Dance Awards Presentation for the Junior Boys/Girls 1:00 – 6:00 pm Dance Competition Tiny Tots Teen Boys/Girls Jr. Adult Ladies/Men Adult Ladies/Men Sr. Adult Ladies/Men Men's Chicken Dance 5:00 – 7:00 pm Break 7:00 pm Extreme Fancy Dance Challenge & Rookie Invitational -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2004 12:00 pm Red Earth Grand Entry of Dance Competitors 1:00 – 8:00 pm Dance Competition Jr. Adult Ladies/Men Adult Ladies/Men Sr. Adult Ladies/Men Men's Chicken Dance Dance Award Presentations All Dance Winners must be in Full Dress! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL CONTESTS Special Women’s Cloth Dance Contest Sponsored by Tone-kei's Family In memory of Vinita "Bunny" White 1st - $800, 2nd - $500, 3rd - $300, 4th - Hand-made Pendlecoat No Drugs or Alcohol Allowed __________________ Before you attempt to beat the odds, make sure you can survive the odds beating you! Why do some people bother breathing when you know their brain isn't getting the oxygen?

05-26-2004, 09:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
roundabout Tiny Tot Dancer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: powwow trail Posts: 55	will thats nice, but you didnt say how many more places you will be adding, will there be more than 5 places if so good, you will probably get more dancers, and what is the prize money now. glad you accomidated families with children, now maybe more people will plan to attend, as last time i talked to dancers, none were planing to come to your powwow since the 30 dollars was too much and the politics were numerious, maybe you should think about changing your head staff next year. thanks :explode:

05-26-2004, 10:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
sltate Senior Dancer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: apache,ok Posts: 562	Thank you Ms. Alexander for your kind and informative invitation. Please be encouraged that several of our family and friends from up in the north country are planning to attend this event, mainly due to the age group splits(if anyone would go to the website and see the breakdown of categories before placing judgment on this committee). This is the very FIRST time any major pow wow in Oklahoma has acknowledged the difference in the dance styles by age category. They do this up in the north country and have also done this at Schemitzun, but never in Oklahoma. As a dancer, I appreciate this accommodation to our dancers. Be encouraged that the changes you are making are positive and even though we have always attended Red Earth as a family, we are even more excited to attend this year. The drum groups selected are excellent and I understand they have turned down other commitments to attend Red Earth this year. So, the singing should be excellent and isn't that the heartbeat of the pow wow anyway? I would travel to dance to a good drum anytime! LOL

06-04-2004, 01:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paul G Webmaster Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 14,457 Blog Entries: 1	30 minutes to go! Red Earth Live __________________ New to the site--Introduce Yourself Need Help--FAQ--Search Feedback--Post your suggestions MyTribalSpace.com \| NativeGatherings.com \| PowWows.com Podcast \| Indigitunes.com NativeSeek.com \| Pow Wow TV \| Pow Wow Radio \| NativeMusicSource.com Radio \| NDN411.com \| eSnag Online Dating

06-04-2004, 07:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Paul G Webmaster Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 14,457 Blog Entries: 1	It's been great so far! Over 700 people have watch today. Stay tuned for the Indigenous! __________________ New to the site--Introduce Yourself Need Help--FAQ--Search Feedback--Post your suggestions MyTribalSpace.com \| NativeGatherings.com \| PowWows.com Podcast \| Indigitunes.com NativeSeek.com \| Pow Wow TV \| Pow Wow Radio \| NativeMusicSource.com Radio \| NDN411.com \| eSnag Online Dating

06-04-2004, 07:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mato Winyan Gangster of Love Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,500 Blog Entries: 4	We have video!! Woooooo Hoooooooo!!! :bouncy: :clap: :bouncy: Congrats Boss!! Crossed another milestone!! I'm watching chairs being set up at the powwow with a friend in Chicago! __________________ "We see it as a desecration not only of a mountain but of our way of life. This is a genocidal issue to us. If they kill this mountain, they kill our way of life." ~Debra White Plume

06-04-2004, 07:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
Paul G Webmaster Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 14,457 Blog Entries: 1	This band coming up rocks, so stay online!! __________________ New to the site--Introduce Yourself Need Help--FAQ--Search Feedback--Post your suggestions MyTribalSpace.com \| NativeGatherings.com \| PowWows.com Podcast \| Indigitunes.com NativeSeek.com \| Pow Wow TV \| Pow Wow Radio \| NativeMusicSource.com Radio \| NDN411.com \| eSnag Online Dating

06-04-2004, 08:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mato Winyan Gangster of Love Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,500 Blog Entries: 4	WE HAVE SOUND!!!! :Thumbs __________________ "We see it as a desecration not only of a mountain but of our way of life. This is a genocidal issue to us. If they kill this mountain, they kill our way of life." ~Debra White Plume