WhoMe

Both Indians and nonIndians learn from CDs. Both have been known to use recorded songs in "ceremonies." This is a scary thought because pseudo-ceremonies CAN be reproduced and recorded song CAN be used as a resource to make it happen!




Ceremonial leaders (Stomp Dance Grounds leaders) have the obligation to correct or intervene when their music is being duplicated for commercial purposes and/or shared with the public.

It is my strong opinion that Ceremonial music is NOT public domain.

__________________
"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

~RoCkIn_cHiCkeN~

Once i asked my spiritual teacher if he would make me a tape of a set of sweat songs and he told me this, "I won't put these songs onto a tape because if you want to learn them it would be better to learn them by practicing them with me or come to my sweats. because what will they mean to your own self if you learn them on tape?"
He made me think about it when he told me this and he was right, what are the moral and spiritual values we use to treat these songs? Especially in this topic what is the value we give of our money in exchange for the songs we use to call our grandmothers and grandfathers with, and pray with to the Creator?

I had another teacher who did put the same sweat songs on tape but he was very picky out of who he gave tapes to. He made sure that anyone who was given a copy of sweat songs was dedicated in really learning those songs, he made sure that we learned from these tapes, how to sing the songs, and he would translate the songs for us in person. if anyone chose to stop singing sweat songs he would ask you to give back your copy of the sweat songs.

This issue of selling ceremonial songs on tape could be very dangerous to anyone and everyone. When we learn the signifigance of ceremonial songs thru CD's and video, we miss the passing of respect, love, and honour we need for these songs. We also miss the value we need to treat our sacred tools (eagle parts, drums, outfits, etc..). We call spirits to us from the spiritworld with these songs and tools. Its even more dangerous is if we unknowingly and unaware of calling over evil spirits into our ceremonies, this could lead to our bodies getting possessed by the devil.

However, I do agree with selling powwow on video and music because it is a way we could use technology to "help" us teach our culture, we can use it to show people what powwow is but not what it means. when you depend on selling powwow music and videos for educational purposes you are doing something helpful to yourself and your people, but when you sell powwow more than you need to for getting by, you are a sellout. Selling ceremonial songs however is something for you to think about with what i already said.
HEY, it is kind of embarrassing that how many of out people don't even know our own ceremonial songs and here are Non-Natives in Europe running ceremonies, let alone how many of us know our own languages?

Theres my 2 cents.

__________________
I don't try to be a pimp or a playa, i don't try to be an A$$ when i got money, i dont wanna be you or a superstar, i jus wanna be me - by me