Wojapi4Me

So many times here people blast contest pow wows are being un-traditional and being attended by greedy, money-grubbers. I disagree. I think some might fit that category, but I think most people who go to contest pow wows just like the competition.

So, let's list some of the many positives of contest pow wows. I'll start with a few off the top of my head:

1. Outfits and beadwork improve daily. As a beader, this really pushes us with our art.

2. There are many more singers out there than there used to be.

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If pro is the opposite of con, then wouldn't progress be the opposite of...lol

Mato Winyan

No only does the beadwork push us and motivate us "artists" but the clothing...(designs....color combinations etc).. dances styles....all seem to keep changing. Sometimes good......sometimes makes you raise an eyebrow.....but I like seeing the creativity out there.

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"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

NDNQt

Contesting really helps out the wannabees too!

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Becky B.

White Powwow Dancer

Hi
What do you mean by wannabees? I do not contest here.

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Asema Is Sacred
Traditional Use, Not Misuse
Wakan Tanka please have compassion on me.
OK Niji we are running a train with red over yellow at this powwow.

trudanny

the contest winnings help with travel. You can see the country while driving to a pow wow, or spend a day or two being tourist before/after a pow wow.

competition is also a good motivator. Meaning: if you want to win, you have to keep improving your stamina, footwork, etc.... Winning is a good thing, but what's even better? Feeling good about yourself, and knowing that you tried your best!!

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It is never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Eliot

Pvt Butter

contest powwows are fun to watch...better than going to a baseball game!

suthernwaterbird

Ofcourse they are better then baseball games...lol But competition really brings out the best in SOME people. Competition dancing means competition singing and you all know how it feels when you're dancing and that songs is.....wow...lol. It also encourages them little guys to dance and show anitiative. It inspires people who don't dance to start or the dancers that are already competition, to like "yuns" said improve footwork. BUT with the positive, there is negative, but this thread is positive so we won't go there...

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WhY yOu AsK? bEcUz We CaN!

badmaninc

I like to watch just how hard some dancers work at improving themselves. I watched a couple of powwows last year where some dancers knew that they needed to work on their stamina and fitness. Two powwows later, they both placed and looked good doing it. Its cool to watch dancers let go of their egos and admit they need to work on their weak areas.

kiyaanii mom

Some one touched on this earlier, but I think the #1 Positive is Singing. Because of the contesting, I hear much better quality singing in both southern and northern. Also, it's been a long time since I was at a powwow where a singer or drum group was asked to leave because of drinking. That is definetly a PLUS.

Kio-Manche

Positives of Competition powwows.
Come on, People! MONEY!!!!

Competition powwows are great social events. If they have a Tiny Tots contest, then it is well worth it. I like to watch the Tiny Tots get after it.

I like to hear the different drums too. Cracks me up when I see some singers from one drum, get up and run to another drum they may be helping out with. Especially the big boys. Thats almost as funny as the Tiny Tots.

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Kio-Manche
Oklahoma Proud!!!