Is Powwow Just a Game?

~RoCkIn_cHiCkeN~ · 10-02-2005, 03:32 AM

I'm getting real pissed off with alot the things powwow people do these days. I am 20 years old and this is my 5th year in dancing, for these past 5 years i learned about a whole different lifestyle than what everyone else from my rez lives. All too much on the rez i see people getting pissed as **** and smoke their ganja like ciggs.

It seems to me like the powwow is the rez. Are we supposed to be powwow people? Are we allowed to roll our weed right next to our drum and have a shot of jack daniels at the same time? I know of golden agers who carry a quater ounce of weed with them all the time. **** we might as well clear our throats when we sing with a six of bud.

Heres an Indian Commandment, "do what you know to be right", obviously if a powwow rule is to have no drugs/alcohol around the drum it "probably" came from the sacred teaching of RESPECT. It seems like these powwow stoners say "i'm only human, I make mistakes." MISTAKE MY a$$". Heres a note for you, a MISTAKE is an accident, sometimes something you won't expect, and something you look back on in the future so it won't happen again. A SIN is not an accident, it's something you commit and you know is wrong.

POWWOW IS SOLD
I enjoy competition powwows more so than traditional powwows. I only win a little bit in specials or the main competition, but i know others who think they dance like all that, some of them are sore losers and think they should have placed because the other guys established powwow people and he/she thinks they were a no good dancer. Especially the MADE dancers/drum groups, they're the biggest sore losers of all, just because they win big at powwows they get beat out by a smaller name they say it was fixed. Sometimes the little guys are just way damn better.

I know competition powwow is a form of gambling but i don't let that f****** money get to be the reason why I dance. I dance for the people, the money should be one of the last things I worry about, but sometimes it slips my mind AND I'm only Human, I make mistakes. I also like smoking weed too and having a few beers, BUT I wait out a few days until I sing or dance again. DON'T LET THE MONEY TO GET UNDER THOSE SKULLS OF YOURS. Money won't fill your hungry stomachs, money won't quench your thirsts, and money won't keep your family together. Watch out how you win, if you get pissed off when you don't win its time to stay in your home community, relax and teach the kids how to sing or dance for a couple years, or just don't compete.

Is Powwow a game?
Remember this: we handle sacred and sometimes ceremonial objects (Drums, eagle feathers/parts, pipes) around the powwow grounds and in the powwow.
The childeren are our most valuable resource, so let's raise them properly and with the teachings that were given to our people.

I know alot of people will hate me for my opinions, its allowed, you have your own minds, however I don't think I would be the one with the problem. I just want you to think about my opinion.

hiy hiy Toban Sky

Blue Poet · 10-02-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~RoCkIn_cHiCkeN~

I'm getting real pissed off with alot the things powwow people do these days. I am 20 years old and this is my 5th year in dancing, for these past 5 years i learned about a whole different lifestyle than what everyone else from my rez lives. All too much on the rez i see people getting pissed as **** and smoke their ganja like ciggs.

It seems to me like the powwow is the rez. Are we supposed to be powwow people? Are we allowed to roll our weed right next to our drum and have a shot of jack daniels at the same time? I know of golden agers who carry a quater ounce of weed with them all the time. **** we might as well clear our throats when we sing with a six of bud.

Heres an Indian Commandment, "do what you know to be right", obviously if a powwow rule is to have no drugs/alcohol around the drum it "probably" came from the sacred teaching of RESPECT. It seems like these powwow stoners say "i'm only human, I make mistakes." MISTAKE MY a$$". Heres a note for you, a MISTAKE is an accident, sometimes something you won't expect, and something you look back on in the future so it won't happen again. A SIN is not an accident, it's something you commit and you know is wrong.

POWWOW IS SOLD
I enjoy competition powwows more so than traditional powwows. I only win a little bit in specials or the main competition, but i know others who think they dance like all that, some of them are sore losers and think they should have placed because the other guys established powwow people and he/she thinks they were a no good dancer. Especially the MADE dancers/drum groups, they're the biggest sore losers of all, just because they win big at powwows they get beat out by a smaller name they say it was fixed. Sometimes the little guys are just way damn better.

I know competition powwow is a form of gambling but i don't let that f****** money get to be the reason why I dance. I dance for the people, the money should be one of the last things I worry about, but sometimes it slips my mind AND I'm only Human, I make mistakes. I also like smoking weed too and having a few beers, BUT I wait out a few days until I sing or dance again. DON'T LET THE MONEY TO GET UNDER THOSE SKULLS OF YOURS. Money won't fill your hungry stomachs, money won't quench your thirsts, and money won't keep your family together. Watch out how you win, if you get pissed off when you don't win its time to stay in your home community, relax and teach the kids how to sing or dance for a couple years, or just don't compete.

Is Powwow a game?
Remember this: we handle sacred and sometimes ceremonial objects (Drums, eagle feathers/parts, pipes) around the powwow grounds and in the powwow.
The childeren are our most valuable resource, so let's raise them properly and with the teachings that were given to our people.

I know alot of people will hate me for my opinions, its allowed, you have your own minds, however I don't think I would be the one with the problem. I just want you to think about my opinion.

hiy hiy Toban Sky

Hi Bro, welcome to the REAL world. I don't hate you for your opinions, they seem sound to me. At 20 years, you have an idealistic view of the world--that's not a negative, it's just that most of us start out that way and eventually realize the reality of life doesn't life up to our expectations. I is definitely disillusioning. Should we reduce our 'standards' or 'integrity'? No, we just need to realize life doesn't happen the way we want it, people don't always behave the way we think they should. You'll give yourself an ulcer or be an angry young man if you don't let some of this go.

No, it isn't right for drums to be sparking up and swigging. Older dancers and smoke? Helps relieve their pain, Dear. These guys are pushing their bodies more than they should. But, when their families need that money to live on, they'll keep pushin. You talk about accidents and mistakes. Truth is, no one is perfect, even you. When we are brought up in homes where we were criticized all the time we tend to demand perfection of ourselves and those around us. Leads to alot of disappointment. And, yes, depending on how you verbalize your feelings you will offend and put people off. They don't 'hate' you, they just don't need or like to be hated on by you. They know their strengths and their weaknesses. Just like you know yours.

I hope you can lighten up a bit and enjoy life. Enjoy your pow-wow experience for what it means to you. What other people do and what it means to them is their personal business. You can't change others, only yourself. Take care.

tigger · 10-02-2005, 08:33 PM

i agree with blue poet.......... enjoy the powwow for what it means for you. you can't change what some people do and don't let it get to you.

and it's a new thing for not drdinking at the pow wows. i remember when some pow wows were sponsered by beer companies.

shorty · 10-03-2005, 04:40 PM

i love to powwow~!~ i hit alot of traditional powwows ! im not much of a contest dancer but i do love to go n watch them :) ive never really seen anyone at a powwow with drugs n alcohol thats not to say its not their i have heard every now n then that they r and nothing was done about it course i never seen it and usurally if anyones drunk their told to leave but i agree it shouldnt be their ~~specially around lil kids my kids have never been around that sorta stuff and i certainly dont want the place to be a powwow where they see it ~!well anywayz ~!*~! i dont hate you for your opinions!! :)

tsuj510 · 10-03-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~RoCkIn_cHiCkeN~

I'm getting real pissed off with alot the things powwow people do these days. I am 20 years old and this is my 5th year in dancing, for these past 5 years i learned about a whole different lifestyle than what everyone else from my rez lives. All too much on the rez i see people getting pissed as **** and smoke their ganja like ciggs.

It seems to me like the powwow is the rez. Are we supposed to be powwow people? Are we allowed to roll our weed right next to our drum and have a shot of jack daniels at the same time? I know of golden agers who carry a quater ounce of weed with them all the time. **** we might as well clear our throats when we sing with a six of bud.

Heres an Indian Commandment, "do what you know to be right", obviously if a powwow rule is to have no drugs/alcohol around the drum it "probably" came from the sacred teaching of RESPECT. It seems like these powwow stoners say "i'm only human, I make mistakes." MISTAKE MY a$$". Heres a note for you, a MISTAKE is an accident, sometimes something you won't expect, and something you look back on in the future so it won't happen again. A SIN is not an accident, it's something you commit and you know is wrong.

POWWOW IS SOLD
I enjoy competition powwows more so than traditional powwows. I only win a little bit in specials or the main competition, but i know others who think they dance like all that, some of them are sore losers and think they should have placed because the other guys established powwow people and he/she thinks they were a no good dancer. Especially the MADE dancers/drum groups, they're the biggest sore losers of all, just because they win big at powwows they get beat out by a smaller name they say it was fixed. Sometimes the little guys are just way damn better.

I know competition powwow is a form of gambling but i don't let that f****** money get to be the reason why I dance. I dance for the people, the money should be one of the last things I worry about, but sometimes it slips my mind AND I'm only Human, I make mistakes. I also like smoking weed too and having a few beers, BUT I wait out a few days until I sing or dance again. DON'T LET THE MONEY TO GET UNDER THOSE SKULLS OF YOURS. Money won't fill your hungry stomachs, money won't quench your thirsts, and money won't keep your family together. Watch out how you win, if you get pissed off when you don't win its time to stay in your home community, relax and teach the kids how to sing or dance for a couple years, or just don't compete.

Is Powwow a game?
Remember this: we handle sacred and sometimes ceremonial objects (Drums, eagle feathers/parts, pipes) around the powwow grounds and in the powwow.
The childeren are our most valuable resource, so let's raise them properly and with the teachings that were given to our people.

I know alot of people will hate me for my opinions, its allowed, you have your own minds, however I don't think I would be the one with the problem. I just want you to think about my opinion.

hiy hiy Toban Sky

Hey, Bro-I seen your message and wanted to take a minute to respond.

About smoking and drinking, well, I guess thats for everyone to decide for themsleves. I was taught not to mix those things and powwows, but I have heard of other Nations and Individuals who do not feel that way. But I live in Oakland, CA, so maybe I'm biased...

I get discouraged at Powwows sometimes, too, but for other reasons. Things like gossiping, backbiting, bickering etc. get to me the most. In my culture, gossip is seen as witchcraft, because it is so potentialy harmful to others, so I try to avoid it at all costs. Am I guilty of it, yes, from time to time-why? Because I have a bad heart and want to hurt folks? Nope.. It's just 'cause I'm Human and not perfect.

One thing I learned is that, and I say this with all due respect, Elders mess up too.

We're all Human. And the people you love and respect in life are GOING to hurt you from time to time. But you know what you do is suck it up and be tolerant! As a wise man once said, "Tolerance is the price you have to pay for being tolerated YOURSELF!"

I agree with Blue Poet, inpart. Son, its HELL getting old-I'm 31 and have more metal in me than the Bionic Man. So you go dance yer *ss off out there for us old guys who can't anymore and have a big time doing it! Don't worry so much, and enjoy the fact that we can powwow without getting shot or hanged for it! Take it easy!

geronimo · 10-03-2005, 08:41 PM

Rockin Chicken, you raise a lot of good points, and as long as there are people out there like you and tsalaghisam & others, things will be done respectfully & in accordance w/ the REAL ndn way - I definitely hear and share your frustrations, but teach what you know to be right and set an example for others.....It counts more than we'll ever know...

coupcounter49 · 10-04-2005, 12:01 PM

My Dad once said, "To be an Elder, you have to gain that title". We all have a tendency of calling an old person an Elder. There is a big difference between Elder and Elderly. As for drinking and smoking-up at Pow Wows. Hell, that's been going for ever and I don't think we can do anything about it. Damn near all these so-called Medicine Men have been drunk one time or another. Powwows are loaded with hyprocrites, from dancers to singers. They are only fooling themselves.

**jdazmum** · 10-04-2005, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coupcounter49

My Dad once said, "To be an Elder, you have to gain that title". We all have a tendency of calling an old person an Elder. There is a big difference between Elder and Elderly. As for drinking and smoking-up at Pow Wows. Hell, that's been going for ever and I don't think we can do anything about it. Damn near all these so-called Medicine Men have been drunk one time or another. Powwows are loaded with hyprocrites, from dancers to singers. They are only fooling themselves.

Let's quote and unquote that last sentence, "POWWOWS ARE LOADED WITH HYPOCRITES, FROM DANCERS TO SINGERS. THEY ARE ONLY FOOLING THEMSELVES." For some odd reason, natives have this problem that my mom always says, "I tell you something, it goes in one ear, then it goes out the other ear." You can complain and complain, but we are very ignorant people. We don't like people telling us how we are or what we need to change about ourselves, so as long as powwows are around, there will always be booze and drugs. That's a sad statement, but powwow and it's real meaning should be in your heart. Honestly, If see someone drunk or high at a powwow, the level of respect and my own views go out the window. I don't care if you are my friend or relative, I personally hold high standards for myself, you'll never see me at a powwow in that state.

Just keep your head up straight and screwed on right, keep dancing, make yourself strong and live to the fullest............just don't fall down and be a victim of your own thread.

**chazziff** · 10-05-2005, 12:26 PM

well mr. rockin chicken - don't let it get it get you down - you'll be the only one "suffering" in that situation ... "THEY" really don't care what you think of them, if they did they wouldn't be drunk or stoned AT the pow wow.

just go on living your life the way YOU choose to and show your values to your own children ...

and let those drunk/stoned singers/dancers fall to the way side as they always to and be relegated to a distant memory like they are so often are - "hey, what ever happened to **insert drum/dancer name here**?"

**Kiwehnzii** · 10-05-2005, 12:42 PM

Don't worry about what anybody else does. I have that policy in my mind, " Live and let live". I can enjoy the powwow, wherever or whatever type it is. Don't sweat it man. It'll ruin your day or weekend.

I fully agree with what Chazzif says, " whatever happened to " I know that some pretty good dancers & singers have gone on a not-so-good path, but what are we to do? It's their lives and people can choose to do with their own lives. Granted, the effects of drugs/alcohol are felt by those closest to them. They gotta learn that by themselves.

Live and let live.

ma-heench · 10-06-2005, 05:13 PM

All this input is so negative and sad, powwows sponsored by beer companies, smoking up at the drum. Alcohol and drug use is not acceptable at powwows.

Keep your personal standards high, don't let people make you think that you can't live that way because everyone else fails. Not everyone fails to live a life with high standards. Its just that not as many people talk about them. As human beings we are pitiful and weak. That doesn't mean you are destined to fail. Let's start pointing out the people who are successful at living a good life and joining in at powwows. Good sports, kind, alcohol and drug free people do powwow and win.

WhoMe · 10-06-2005, 05:51 PM

All of life has a dark side.

If you look for negativity.... you'll find it.

"Stay in the light!"

10-02-2005, 03:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
~RoCkIn_cHiCkeN~ ~ChIcKeN dAnCeR~ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: on a rez in a bush in northern manitoba Posts: 14	Is Powwow Just a Game? I'm getting real pissed off with alot the things powwow people do these days. I am 20 years old and this is my 5th year in dancing, for these past 5 years i learned about a whole different lifestyle than what everyone else from my rez lives. All too much on the rez i see people getting pissed as ** and smoke their ganja like ciggs. It seems to me like the powwow is the rez. Are we supposed to be powwow people? Are we allowed to roll our weed right next to our drum and have a shot of jack daniels at the same time? I know of golden agers who carry a quater ounce of weed with them all the time. we might as well clear our throats when we sing with a six of bud. Heres an Indian Commandment, "do what you know to be right", obviously if a powwow rule is to have no drugs/alcohol around the drum it "probably" came from the sacred teaching of RESPECT. It seems like these powwow stoners say "i'm only human, I make mistakes." MISTAKE MY a$$". Heres a note for you, a MISTAKE is an accident, sometimes something you won't expect, and something you look back on in the future so it won't happen again. A SIN is not an accident, it's something you commit and you know is wrong. POWWOW IS SOLD I enjoy competition powwows more so than traditional powwows. I only win a little bit in specials or the main competition, but i know others who think they dance like all that, some of them are sore losers and think they should have placed because the other guys established powwow people and he/she thinks they were a no good dancer. Especially the MADE dancers/drum groups, they're the biggest sore losers of all, just because they win big at powwows they get beat out by a smaller name they say it was fixed. Sometimes the little guys are just way damn better. I know competition powwow is a form of gambling but i don't let that f**** money get to be the reason why I dance. I dance for the people, the money should be one of the last things I worry about, but sometimes it slips my mind AND I'm only Human, I make mistakes. I also like smoking weed too and having a few beers, BUT I wait out a few days until I sing or dance again. DON'T LET THE MONEY TO GET UNDER THOSE SKULLS OF YOURS. Money won't fill your hungry stomachs, money won't quench your thirsts, and money won't keep your family together. Watch out how you win, if you get pissed off when you don't win its time to stay in your home community, relax and teach the kids how to sing or dance for a couple years, or just don't compete. Is Powwow a game? Remember this: we handle sacred and sometimes ceremonial objects (Drums, eagle feathers/parts, pipes) around the powwow grounds and in the powwow. The childeren are our most valuable resource, so let's raise them properly and with the teachings that were given to our people. I know alot of people will hate me for my opinions, its allowed, you have your own minds, however I don't think I would be the one with the problem. I just want you to think about my opinion. hiy hiy Toban Sky __________________ 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

10-03-2005, 04:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
shorty Senior Dancer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 686	i love to powwow~!~ i hit alot of traditional powwows ! im not much of a contest dancer but i do love to go n watch them :) ive never really seen anyone at a powwow with drugs n alcohol thats not to say its not their i have heard every now n then that they r and nothing was done about it course i never seen it and usurally if anyones drunk their told to leave but i agree it shouldnt be their ~~specially around lil kids my kids have never been around that sorta stuff and i certainly dont want the place to be a powwow where they see it ~!well anywayz ~!~! i dont hate you for your opinions!! :) __________________ 187TatankaOyate..KingBird..DakotahHotaine.. ..MidniteExpress'..HighLife.. ..BuffaloHorse..Eyabay..BattleCreek.. BlazingSaddles..wHIteHorse CitieHigh..BlackBearCrossing..CederCreek.. ChinikiLake..TimberLand..TBZ..BadNation ..Estayapi..Mandaree..BLACKSTONE ..HIGHNOON.. LakeVermillion..LittleOtter..RedBull..LynxClan **Sizzortail..BearCreek..WildROse..cOzad..GtO.. LynxClan..N0rtheRnCree..Tatae`Topaw..MeskwakiNatio n.. StoneyCreek..BlackLodge..YngKingbird.. Oyatae.. Eva-Hey Nakota..RockyBoyRamblers..PonemahRamblerz.. CumberLand.wildHorse..oGiidakii..SmokeyTown.. NorthernWInd ojibwe plainz RIP lil brother

10-03-2005, 08:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
geronimo Junior Dancer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tarheel State Posts: 242	our children are watching Rockin Chicken, you raise a lot of good points, and as long as there are people out there like you and tsalaghisam & others, things will be done respectfully & in accordance w/ the REAL ndn way - I definitely hear and share your frustrations, but teach what you know to be right and set an example for others.....It counts more than we'll ever know... __________________ No one can make you feel inferior w/o your consent-Eleanor Roosevelt

10-04-2005, 12:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
coupcounter49 Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 17	Elder or Elderly???? My Dad once said, "To be an Elder, you have to gain that title". We all have a tendency of calling an old person an Elder. There is a big difference between Elder and Elderly. As for drinking and smoking-up at Pow Wows. Hell, that's been going for ever and I don't think we can do anything about it. Damn near all these so-called Medicine Men have been drunk one time or another. Powwows are loaded with hyprocrites, from dancers to singers. They are only fooling themselves. Last edited by coupcounter49; 10-04-2005 at 12:03 PM.

10-05-2005, 12:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
chazziff YO!! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in a big sleigh bed Posts: 6,520	well mr. rockin chicken - don't let it get it get you down - you'll be the only one "suffering" in that situation ... "THEY" really don't care what you think of them, if they did they wouldn't be drunk or stoned AT the pow wow. just go on living your life the way YOU choose to and show your values to your own children ... and let those drunk/stoned singers/dancers fall to the way side as they always to and be relegated to a distant memory like they are so often are - "hey, what ever happened to insert drum/dancer name here?" __________________ See I wanna move, but can't escape from you So I keep it low, keep a secret code So everybody else don't have to know So keep ya love locked down

10-02-2005, 08:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
tigger Pow Wow Committee Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: powwows.com Posts: 6,182	i agree with blue poet.......... enjoy the powwow for what it means for you. you can't change what some people do and don't let it get to you. and it's a new thing for not drdinking at the pow wows. i remember when some pow wows were sponsered by beer companies.

10-05-2005, 12:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	Don't worry about what anybody else does. I have that policy in my mind, " Live and let live". I can enjoy the powwow, wherever or whatever type it is. Don't sweat it man. It'll ruin your day or weekend. I fully agree with what Chazzif says, " whatever happened to " I know that some pretty good dancers & singers have gone on a not-so-good path, but what are we to do? It's their lives and people can choose to do with their own lives. Granted, the effects of drugs/alcohol are felt by those closest to them. They gotta learn that by themselves. Live and let live.

10-06-2005, 05:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
ma-heench Junior Dancer Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 105	Keep Your Head Up All this input is so negative and sad, powwows sponsored by beer companies, smoking up at the drum. Alcohol and drug use is not acceptable at powwows. Keep your personal standards high, don't let people make you think that you can't live that way because everyone else fails. Not everyone fails to live a life with high standards. Its just that not as many people talk about them. As human beings we are pitiful and weak. That doesn't mean you are destined to fail. Let's start pointing out the people who are successful at living a good life and joining in at powwows. Good sports, kind, alcohol and drug free people do powwow and win.

10-06-2005, 05:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,561	All of life has a dark side. If you look for negativity.... you'll find it. "Stay in the light!" __________________ "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

10-06-2005, 06:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
MariaMaria Pow Wow Visitor