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Paul G

Angela Gates
PowWows.com Gathering - Forums for Native American Pow Wows - View Profile: ugidali

Angela Gates is running for PowWows.com Princess.

Please post any questions or comments you have for her in this thread.

Voting for the Princess Contest will begin January 1, 2010.

To read more about the contest, please visit:
2010 PowWows.com Princess Contest

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Pow Wow Idol

Oglalaman

What's your favorite thing about Powwows.com?

ugidali

There's not just one favorite thing I love about Powwows.com.
I love reading about the different issues, the polls, the games, and the photo gallery. Those are just some of my favorite things !

NorthofAda

Most if not all of us have run into stereotypes of Native Americans or incorrect information about Native American culture.

Please describe an experience you have had with such a stereotype or incorrection information and how you handled it.

(Sorry for the delay in getting this question to you. My computer crashed big time and I just spent the last 4 hours getting it up and running again ).

kiyaanii mom

Good luck with the contest.

What kind of regalia do you wear when you particpate at powwows? And Why?

ugidali

My family and I use to go to this church. And a new pastor took over and changed a lot of things. Everyone was to do as he said. And we never had any problems with him until I went to drop off some activity sheets for the kids to do. Everyone was just getting there so we stopped the pastor and gave him the sheets (didn't get out of the car) for the children to do. He asked "What are you wearing?" and "Where are you going?"
I told him to a powwow. He didn't understand that so I told him that I would explain later because we were already a little late. He stood there and stared at me for a moment and said ok.

A few days later when we had returned he asked us to come into the church office and a few other people were in there as well. He said, I don't like what you have been doing. I've looked up the "Powwow thing" and I don't want you participating and that kind of stuff." "You all wear face paint, pray to the mountain and worship the sun." "That's evil." I was shocked and I said I don't know where you got your info. from but it's wrong! My family and I sat there a while and explained it to him and I said we will not stop going!
He said well look, I'm Mexican and I don't participate in "Dia de Los Muertos or Cinco de Mayo. Those things are wrong. (I'm thinking, what's wrong with Cinco de Mayo? ) I told him, well fine that's your business. But we will not stop going and dancing in the Powwows. We have not been back in about 3 years now. My family had mentioned it to some of the elders and they were so mad that they had written a letter to him and ALL of the members.
It was a total mess! My friend went to that church looking for us one night and she said "they told me that you all don't go to that church any more because you worship the devil and the mountains"!!!! They were actually trying to get her to stop talking to us! But of course she didn't. She told them off real good too. But it still hurt. After all we had done to help them.

ugidali

I wear my traditional Choctaw dress. A collar necklace and beaded medallion. I wear moccasins and also a esept ish elpi.( A round comb) in my hair because I have transitioned from Fancy Shawl (which I did for years) to Southern Cloth dancing.

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Lakota_winyan

If someone asked you about educational information about indigenous people where would you ask them to go on pow wows.com? which forum? how would you describe this site to someone who has never been here before? How do you identify yourself to people? Have you researched your own history or do you know stories about your people you could share with others? what does culture mean to you?

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"I told you I love u so many times why can't u believe me, I jus wanted u to know my heart belongs to you"..."Here I am w/u, we're finally 2gether, I know u've been hurt so many times b/f, I'm here 2 tell that won't happen no more"...BRC

Joe's Dad

Good questions, Lakota_winyan.

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ugidali

Powwow FAQ's is a great place to start. Many people have questions about the dancing styles as well. For that you can go to Powwow info and go to dance styles. A way to describe the site to a new member is: It's a great guide for natives/non-natives, and anyone who is new to powwows. The Photo gallery is amazing! You can get answers to any questions you have, play games, and find powwow info so you can see what powwows are going on that you would be interested in going to.

I Identify myself through my actions, personality, my passions and my culture.
To me, culture means a way of life. The way you've learned/been brought up to behave, think,act, your language, the way you say things, the way you cook and traditions. I have researched some on my history and have been told family stories as well as stories about my people/ancestors. I've been told stories/tales about animals etc. when i was growing up.

Joyceg

How would you deal with racial slurs like someone saying you don't look Indian enough?

ac_miss

Hello! As a former tribal/pow wow princess myself, I know the obligations it would take to represent your respective tribe or organization. It takes time and some sacrifices to be able to travel to various pow wows and functions.

My question is: Do you have a family support system that will help in your reign as Powwows.com Princess?

Also, other than the obligations set forth by the Powwows.com Committee, do you have another particular platform that you will support?

Good luck!

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Bead All You Can Bead

ugidali

It is sad that many people are ignorant to the facts of our culture. And they think they can look at a person and tell if they are Indian or not. (Just like a post I read in here about a woman's daughter not "looking" Indian.)
They stereotype and think of us as "Hollywood Indians" where "Them all talk like this" etc. etc.
I know full bloods who don't fit the description of looking Indian enough to some people. Schools, organizations and society in general need to learn more about native people. And that's what I would tell them. I wouldn't take it personal because some people don't know but there are some who think they know it all! Those are usually the ones who can't be taught anything.

Thank you for your question.

ugidali

Thank you for your question!

I have a huge family support system! We go to a lot of powwows and meet our friends and other family members there. We support each other at powwows. My mother and my aunt would always correct me if I did anything wrong as far as dancing. I was taught to be respectful to other dancers and my elders. As well as never giving up on my dreams. Weather it being a powwow princess or president of the United States! Lol.

Other than the obligations set fourth by powwows.com committee I will assist in making life better on reservations, like, Pine Ridge. And supporting anything to do with saving our languages and culture. To many indigenous languages have been lost, forever.

Yakoki!

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Oglalaman

That's a good answer.