Eastern Blanket and Eastern War Dancing?

WhoMe · 06-18-2004, 03:08 PM

I am wanting to know more about the Eastern Blanket Dance and the Eastern War Dance. I have seen it for a number of years at Schmitzun but would like to know more about the dances so I can appreciate them and understand them more.

It seems they are done primarily by the Northeastern tribes. When it is time for the winners to dance under the spotlight at Schmitzun, so many non-mainstream (powwow) people come up to congratulate the winners of these catagories.

Do they have many powwows in the Northeast where there are a lot of Eastern Blanket Dancers and Eastern War Dancers?

I for one am glad to see these dances as part of Northeastern powwows. It is very interesting to me as a visitor and showcases the tribes whose homeland's we are powwowing on. Tribal diversity is what makes the intertribal powwow.

Does any body know history and information about these two dances?

**billyjoejimbob** · 06-18-2004, 05:35 PM

I saw eastern blanket and war at schemitzun start around 1994 or so. I have never seen it before. I thought they just made it up so they could have their own style. This pertains mainly to the blanket. the eastern war dance looks like the people in the period clothing dancing. plain and simple.

the blanket dance is supposedly a womans growing story. shy and hiding when a young girl and slowly openning up until they blossom like the butterfly....something like that. What I dont understand is the throwing down of the blanket on the ground at the end of the song. Shouldnt they be desqualified for that? I mean, if they want to competition dance?

buckskin pantyhose · 06-18-2004, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyjoejimbob

What I dont understand is the throwing down of the blanket on the ground at the end of the song. Shouldnt they be desqualified for that? I mean, if they want to competition dance?

:uptosomet And all this time i thought that was to collect $$$ for thier performance!

Jks....i had no idea this even existed until i went up to the Mohegan powwow....my 1st thought was "geez these guys got snaggin down to a category in a powwow!" even contimplated runnin' out there....JUST IN CASE!

:Blush

LSS · 06-19-2004, 12:17 AM

BP....you're too funny girl...

Hey...quick question....was Stoney Creek singing "Snaggin' Again Tonight"? :dating: LOL

LSS

**MayChe** · 06-22-2004, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyjoejimbob

What I dont understand is the throwing down of the blanket on the ground at the end of the song. Shouldnt they be desqualified for that? I mean, if they want to competition dance?

throwing the blanket on the ground signifies the woman being of age to marry or the final stage of a wonan's life, i can't remember which one

Sewickly · 06-22-2004, 10:08 AM

The Blanket Dance is telling of a woman's life, and what she has had to endure in it from birth. Just like the seasons, (Spring) newness, she is born from the womb, hence the shawl totally covering the head and birth the shawl opening up.

(Summer) is like adolescence and teenage years going into young adult. You pick up your dance step and on the honor beats your shawl is twirled around your head and body. Showing off, or shakin' ya tail feathers in a sense. This signifies that you are looking for a mate, and you ready to wed.

(Fall) you're an adult now and your dance becomes more calm, and

(Winter) Golden Age, your dance begins to slow down and you are ready to rest and enjoy the rest of your life. At the end of the song the women drop their shawls, just as you would dancing in other categories in Competition. If it was a Social the Lady would drop it in front of the gentlemen she had her eye on. But in Competition you have to be careful of trick endings, because you could drop and the song keep going, and you just have to stand there.

I know I am misssing some about this dance, but it is wonderful and pretty when done corrrectly. One of my Elders explained this dance to me and she dances it at Schemitzun every year, and I thank her for sharing it with me. Her husband does the War dance and goes off with it! I hope that I have helped you some, if there is something that I did not clarify well enough, let me know I will go more in detail.

WhoMe · 06-22-2004, 12:44 PM

Sewickly,

Thank you so much for sharing this information on the Eastern Blanket Dance. I had sort of heard an explanation that was interpreted by Schmitzun emcee Dale Oldhorn. But when something is interpreted, it doesn't have the same impact as coming from someone who's culture it is a part of.

Now I can emphathize with the people in the audience who are attending a powwow for the first time and are clueless about the powwow dances that they are seeing. If they are not explained, they are simply "another nice dance" and cannot be fully appreciated.

Does anybody have any information on the Eastern War Dance? Also, are the accompanying songs for the Eastern Blanket Dance and War Dance lost and forgotten? I noticed that they have the powwow drums sing for their catagories.

La + * Mom · 06-23-2004, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckskin pantyhose

:uptosomet And all this time i thought that was to collect $$$ for thier performance!

Jks....i had no idea this even existed until i went up to the Mohegan powwow....my 1st thought was "geez these guys got snaggin down to a category in a powwow!" even contimplated runnin' out there....JUST IN CASE!

:Blush

LOL...same....been just dying to 'try it' - practicing on those 'cold' nights' with my blankey. But really, is this dance made for the EAST COAST tribes (i.e. Mohegan, Shinnecock, etc...) because I don't believe us Eastern Iroquois dance like that.

**Kool Breeze** · 06-23-2004, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMe

Does anybody have any information on the Eastern War Dance? Also, are the accompanying songs for the Eastern Blanket Dance and War Dance lost and forgotten? I noticed that they have the powwow drums sing for their catagories.

WhoMe, I dont think that there are specific songs for these categories cuz the Eastern Blanket dance was "invented" probably within the last 20 years or so. I know the lady who started this dance and since then many Northeastern tribes have picked it up. I think its a similar situation for the Eastern War Dance.

Sewickly · 06-23-2004, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAXstarMom

LOL...same....been just dying to 'try it' - practicing on those 'cold' nights' with my blankey. But really, is this dance made for the EAST COAST tribes (i.e. Mohegan, Shinnecock, etc...) because I don't believe us Eastern Iroquois dance like that.

A Ramapough Lady taught it to me. Shinnecock, Narrangansett, (please forgive me for any and all mis-spellings) Mohegan, and I am missing a few more that do this dance. It has started to come down south.

No, it is not a Traditional Iroquois dance, but it is a fun one to do though.

**billyjoejimbob** · 06-23-2004, 12:07 PM

So at the end of the song the ladies THROW DOWN!

AlmostThere · 06-23-2004, 02:19 PM

yyuuuuuuuuuuuup!That's right...we throw down on the east coast.ha

Coyot_In_The_House · 06-24-2004, 06:13 PM

And whispered a story in the ear of someone on one end of the room and by the time you get to the other end you have a story that at best is off the proverbial deep end.....

Reading this thread left me with that impression.....

People if you don't know, and that's okay too...ask.....Better yet if you think you know well do your homework....

The Blanket dance comes from the Northeast region. It has evolved....(*NOTE* I did not say "made up") from older traditions. It is unique to several of the coastal tribes....The blanket is used in several variations...With several representations, i.e. a young woman's role. Blankets have several uses and in a symbolic way denote the well being, or taking care of one's family. You can look at it in stages and wheras a story is shared, although from what I know initially the dance reflected the coming of age of a woman.....so i'm not too sure as far as seeing it as a life long representation? When I asked my children's relatives....They said it is a dance of courtship....Here you may see newer or contemp nuances...It is clear that the dance comes from the Northeast region and is indeed a contribution from those peoples. There were times when the blanket was placed in front of......... if I may an "eligible Bachelor".....

Stay tuned for the War dance explanation, although please i'm open for entertainment do tell......

06-18-2004, 03:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,597	Eastern Blanket and Eastern War Dancing? I am wanting to know more about the Eastern Blanket Dance and the Eastern War Dance. I have seen it for a number of years at Schmitzun but would like to know more about the dances so I can appreciate them and understand them more. It seems they are done primarily by the Northeastern tribes. When it is time for the winners to dance under the spotlight at Schmitzun, so many non-mainstream (powwow) people come up to congratulate the winners of these catagories. Do they have many powwows in the Northeast where there are a lot of Eastern Blanket Dancers and Eastern War Dancers? I for one am glad to see these dances as part of Northeastern powwows. It is very interesting to me as a visitor and showcases the tribes whose homeland's we are powwowing on. Tribal diversity is what makes the intertribal powwow. Does any body know history and information about these two dances? __________________ "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

06-19-2004, 12:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
LSS Sappling! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 880	BP....you're too funny girl... Hey...quick question....was Stoney Creek singing "Snaggin' Again Tonight"? :dating: LOL LSS __________________ To get a true picture of your purpose in life, you only get the whole picture when you listen with your mind, your ears and your heart. This way The Creator has a direct connection with you and only you...no outside interference. When you follow the will of IT that created you, understanding that your purpose is not for you...but for IT and all that IT has created, there can be no wrong except failure to be obedient. Only then do we jeopardize the gifts we are given. Its not the final destination that defines us, rather the journey taken!

06-22-2004, 10:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
Sewickly Teen Dancer Join Date: May 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 284	The Blanket Dance is telling of a woman's life, and what she has had to endure in it from birth. Just like the seasons, (Spring) newness, she is born from the womb, hence the shawl totally covering the head and birth the shawl opening up. (Summer) is like adolescence and teenage years going into young adult. You pick up your dance step and on the honor beats your shawl is twirled around your head and body. Showing off, or shakin' ya tail feathers in a sense. This signifies that you are looking for a mate, and you ready to wed. (Fall) you're an adult now and your dance becomes more calm, and (Winter) Golden Age, your dance begins to slow down and you are ready to rest and enjoy the rest of your life. At the end of the song the women drop their shawls, just as you would dancing in other categories in Competition. If it was a Social the Lady would drop it in front of the gentlemen she had her eye on. But in Competition you have to be careful of trick endings, because you could drop and the song keep going, and you just have to stand there. I know I am misssing some about this dance, but it is wonderful and pretty when done corrrectly. One of my Elders explained this dance to me and she dances it at Schemitzun every year, and I thank her for sharing it with me. Her husband does the War dance and goes off with it! I hope that I have helped you some, if there is something that I did not clarify well enough, let me know I will go more in detail. __________________ Just Be Real, and live for who you are!

06-22-2004, 12:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,597	Sewickly, Thank you so much for sharing this information on the Eastern Blanket Dance. I had sort of heard an explanation that was interpreted by Schmitzun emcee Dale Oldhorn. But when something is interpreted, it doesn't have the same impact as coming from someone who's culture it is a part of. Now I can emphathize with the people in the audience who are attending a powwow for the first time and are clueless about the powwow dances that they are seeing. If they are not explained, they are simply "another nice dance" and cannot be fully appreciated. Does anybody have any information on the Eastern War Dance? Also, are the accompanying songs for the Eastern Blanket Dance and War Dance lost and forgotten? I noticed that they have the powwow drums sing for their catagories. __________________ "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

06-23-2004, 02:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
AlmostThere The Original OP CREW Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 971	yyuuuuuuuuuuuup!That's right...we throw down on the east coast.ha __________________ blah blah blah....

06-18-2004, 05:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,526	I saw eastern blanket and war at schemitzun start around 1994 or so. I have never seen it before. I thought they just made it up so they could have their own style. This pertains mainly to the blanket. the eastern war dance looks like the people in the period clothing dancing. plain and simple. the blanket dance is supposedly a womans growing story. shy and hiding when a young girl and slowly openning up until they blossom like the butterfly....something like that. What I dont understand is the throwing down of the blanket on the ground at the end of the song. Shouldnt they be desqualified for that? I mean, if they want to competition dance?

06-23-2004, 12:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,526	So at the end of the song the ladies THROW DOWN!

06-24-2004, 06:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
Coyot_In_The_House uhvdlv Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,980	Have you ever sat in a school auditorium...... And whispered a story in the ear of someone on one end of the room and by the time you get to the other end you have a story that at best is off the proverbial deep end..... Reading this thread left me with that impression..... People if you don't know, and that's okay too...ask.....Better yet if you think you know well do your homework.... The Blanket dance comes from the Northeast region. It has evolved....(NOTE I did not say "made up") from older traditions. It is unique to several of the coastal tribes....The blanket is used in several variations...With several representations, i.e. a young woman's role. Blankets have several uses and in a symbolic way denote the well being, or taking care of one's family. You can look at it in stages and wheras a story is shared, although from what I know initially the dance reflected the coming of age of a woman.....so i'm not too sure as far as seeing it as a life long representation? When I asked my children's relatives....They said it is a dance of courtship....Here you may see newer or contemp nuances...It is clear that the dance comes from the Northeast region and is indeed a contribution from those peoples. There were times when the blanket was placed in front of......... if I may an "eligible Bachelor"..... Stay tuned for the War dance explanation, although please i'm open for entertainment do tell......

06-25-2004, 09:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
Sewickly Teen Dancer Join Date: May 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 284