this1ndnchic

I'm a mixed blood, (Coast Salish and Ojibwe) at the IWASIL pow wow i was really excited to share a little bit of our culture. We did a few songs. Man it was awesome to do this at a pow wow so big. Our regalia is comptemporary since the learning of weaving out of cedar and wool is taught by so few, we do with what we can at the moment.

Well anyways we got a few looks cuz we were different. 2 of our princesses went in with the others in grand entry ,as we other coastals stood on the outside. They were given dirty looks and felt really uncomfortable. Why were we treated like that in our own homeland??? Afterall we were invited guests. But besides the looks i felt so good sharing my other side. To see one of our most valued possessions (traditional cedar canoe) take part and shine some light on the Coast salish people was pretty awesome.

Although there were some people who came up to us and were just amazed and gave thier thanks.I thank them for that. My whole point is that there are so many different types of cultures among us and that not one is more important or better than the other. All native cultures are beautiful and have thier own strengths.

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(¯`·._.·`*CeDaR RoSe*`·._.·´¯)

River Spirit

There seems to be a knee jerk reaction that runs thru NDN Country whenever an individual or group of people at a celebration don't conform to the traditions of the area. They label you a wannabe and criticize how you are dressed even though you are just as Native as they. I saw this several times in Oregon and Washington when I lived up there. I would occasionally see a woman (usually) in Tlingit or Haida regalia and noticed the unfriendly looks given to them; particularly if they had bare feet. Consider it your critics loss for being so closed mindness to the wonderful diversity that is Native and just enjoy yourself. You owe no one an apology for being of mixed blood. And that's my 2 cents.

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"The Cleveland Indians are going to change their name. They don't want to be known as a team that perpetuates racial stereotypes. From now on they're just going to be called the Indians." - Native Comedian Vaughn Eaglebear, Colville/Lakota

this1ndnchic

Thanks for your 2 cents. :) About apologizing for being of mixed decendency i was merely stating what I am. Im proud to have both bloodlines in me. If I had the choose to be either one i wouldnt because i wouldnt be the person that i am today.

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(¯`·._.·`*CeDaR RoSe*`·._.·´¯)

River Spirit

:huddle: hugs! Good! It's good when a woman feels good about who she is! Keep strong!

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"The Cleveland Indians are going to change their name. They don't want to be known as a team that perpetuates racial stereotypes. From now on they're just going to be called the Indians." - Native Comedian Vaughn Eaglebear, Colville/Lakota

clrezchik_12

damn thats crazee... i'm a mixed ndn 1/2 Shuswap, 1/4 Carrier, 1/8 Cree and 1/8 Blackfoot... and i don't get mean looks or anything but thats pretty harsh... When new people come into our territory, Me and my family always try to accomodate with them with whatever they need...

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Lakota_Lady

It's sad that you were treated that way. But it's their loss for not being more friendly to you.

kiyaanii mom

I've seen this happen in a lot of places.... I suspect that part of the issue is the threat of wannabes coming to American Indian gathering and "stealing" our culture. I also suspect that "Powwows" are becoming so standardized, difference is taken the wrong way.

There was an interesting thread about the trouble with Navajos, in which the thread flowed through the issue of many Navajos who imitate dance styles, beadwork and dress of other tribes at powwows. It was in interesting debate with good points on both sides.

As a Navajo from a strong and thriving culture it is very hard to understand the preceived threat of many other tribes. But I learn a lot here on Powwow.com and from many of my friends across the U.S. and Canada. Just hold true to your beliefs and try hard (I know it is difficult) to not be too offended by the territorial and/or ignorant. No matter what race of humans, you will always find those kind of people. Sad but true!

this1ndnchic

What gets me is that this happend in my homeland.... It didnt affect me really. I just dont understand it completely. I could never imagine myself going into someone elses territory and lookin down on them or disrespecting them in any way. When i see other styles of song & dance im just in complete awe and admiration.
Oh and one thing I dance jingle but ive been away from pow wows for awhile (thank goodness or else i would be corrupted eh jk lol) and a few of my old "freinds" didnt even come up to me ha and a couple cousins. sheesh

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(¯`·._.·`*CeDaR RoSe*`·._.·´¯)

MissFancyChick

I too am Coastal and Plains... My Mom is Tlinget from the Raven Clan and my Dad is Colville from the Okanogan Band. I am a Fancy dancer and I travel to a lot of pow-wows around our area. I notice a lot of tribal/cultural discrimination. My mom had a really hard time when they moved over here to the Colville Rez at Coulee Dam. She began working at the
IHS and was treated so badly. She almost quit numerous times but pulled through and is stronger because of it. It was especially hard b/c these people she began to work with have led a "rez" life, they've seen the tough times and my Mom is from Seattle. She has her own little style. She wears her Tlinget jewelry and dresses very well. I think they were a little jealous... understand-ably (?) So needless to say she got a bit more than a few rude looks. Not to make light of your experience. Another discrimination she has endured and moved on from was when she was thinking about joining a "club" for Alaskan Native women in the area ( which will remain nameless). She was at the time singing with my father on a drum at powwows. The group told her that she needed to stop singing on the drum, my Dad had to stop singing on the drum, and us kids had to stop dancing plains style at powwows. I just dont "get" some people!!!

I did really enjoy doing the dance after Grand Entry with everyone else. I think everyone enjoyed that. Although I would have loved to have watched it too. I wish I had my video camera... sighhh...

Anyways, I love that the Coastal dancers were involved in the Grand Entry, and the canoe was amazing !!

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Love the Dance...
Feel the Drum

Kakeeya

I have great respect for our NDN people from where ever they come from. I am sure sorry that some people ruined your day and maybe they were just having a bad day or something? I sure don't know, I wasn't there.

I was one of the people that greeted the Canoe family when it came to Celilo, OR. They took us for rides in their canoes and let us wear their Coastal hats, it was truly amazing. Sure makes you have respect for making that journey up the Columbia River, cuz sometimes she can be pretty rough waters.

My grand daughter's people come from Swinomish, so I have much respect for their ways and culture. I for one am always very proud of our people that can practice their own way and not borrow other people's ways/culture. Thumbs up to you for knowing your culture and being proud of it! :Thumbs

middle of the sky

I've noticed that some westcoast people really hate plains indians out here on the west coast and i think that's sad. i was hired to work at a native org here and a couple of the ladies asked where i was from. I told them winnipeg. They said oh, "we, thought you were from the interior." "Are you cree?", "No, Ojibway." "well at least you're not cree." I've noticed other people really don't want natives from the east to work at native orgs cuz they say we're stealing their jobs and these people are supposed to be "elders."

Kakeeya

West Coast in Da House!!! ayyy :Chatter

I'm Plateau and I love them Plains men! I married a Lakota many years ago. My son looks like him and so does his daughter. But, they are being raised by me and learning our Longhouse ways. We go back to SD every now and then and they are welcomed back with open arms. All my former in-laws still consider me as family and it's really nice.

AngelFeather

It is really sad that you would have to experience that feeling i would never wish that kind of uncomfortable feeling on anyone. I too do not understand the ignorance some people display towards each other ecspecially when they are of the same background. I mean in my area.. Blackfoot country.. we have many tribes and lemme tell you even tho we are from the same Nation I see alot of jealousy, competetion and so forth, I dont get it either .. I see it displayed towards others such as the crees as well. Like really, we are all native people beleive in much of the same things and our traditions and practices may be different but didnt we (Natives) all suffer the same, i mean our ancestors? Dont we all to this day still fight for our rights and in the end arent we doing exactly what the "white" man wants, division amongst the people? We fight amongst ourselves when we should be standing together to proclaim what has always been rightfully ours but instead we all want a piece of our own pie , this is exactly what they did to the black caused much division among those people and now look at the backlash, gangs murders, selling poisions to our own . Here on our reserve we have had 3 murders and that was just this year in the first 6 months of 2004, even 5 years ago that was never heard of. We are destroying each other with this and if we cant see that now than we will end up in the same positon ...doing exactly what they want.Killing each other off. I wish we could just understand that hatred and jealousy does no one good you can see that throughout history, and now we have a strong group of people that are still trying to hang on to what traditions are left of thier people but yet they fight and quarrel amongst each other. we should all be encouraging each other instead of being jealous, we should all stand up for one another cause no one else will. We are human beings too and there are some of those out there that want us to forget that, But we wont!
Sorry went off on a tangent.. but I feel trongly about this.. I dont get it either I really dont. I hope no one is offended by my words but that is what theyare Mine .