[WhoMe]

It's that time of year again. GON, yeah or nay?

[wardancer]

I think powwows in general are getting too commercial. There is such a thing as "too much". The Gathering , in my opinion , is one of those things ! If you are a tourist , great , go watch a spectacle. If you are 1 of about 20 of the very best champion dancers in each category , great , go show off. Same goes for singers and drums. Anything other than that , you're just taking up space.
As I get older and lazier , I guess it's easier to watch a video than to go , spend way too much money , fight the crowds for every aspect( parking , seating , food lines , getting in , getting out)of being there ! Just the opinion of an old guy that likes staying home more than he used to ! LOL

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by wardancer

I think powwows in general are getting too commercial. There is such a thing as "too much". The Gathering , in my opinion , is one of those things ! If you are a tourist , great , go watch a spectacle.

If one doesn't want to watch a spectacle what pow wow is a good choice?

[WhoMe]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

If one doesn't want to watch a spectacle what pow wow is a good choice?

B Arrow,

There are at least 30 powwows every weekend, 52 weekends a year in North America. Some are very big and some are very small. For more information on what upcoming powwows will be taking place visit powwows.com..... BWAhahahahaaha!

[OLChemist]

My perspective is that of a spectator, for what that is worth.

They lost me forever when they banned the venerable Indian practice of marking your spot in the bleachers with a blanket, LOL.

I went to GON every year from 1989 to 1999, and then occasionally up to 2005. I quit going when my hip got so bad, I became afraid I'd pitch head over heels down the steps in the Pit in the crush. I admit to entertaining fantasies of falling into the arms of a good looking man in full regalia, but not quite that way, LOL.

I think they just added too much stuff. There was the small stage with the bands between the Pit and the vendors tent. All the pre-grand entry performances. (Anyone remember the Brazilian Carnaval dancers? Am I showing my age?) Then the weird stage lights on the floor. Then a couple bands behind the Pit morphed into Stage '49. More and more.

Now, I'm an old lady. I can't stand in line for the restrooms for 30 mins. A mile walk in from parking. Twenty minutes to get to your seat. Fighting crowds the whole way. I'm guess I've gotten grumpy in my old age, I don't enjoy it anymore :(

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by WhoMe

B Arrow,

There are at least 30 powwows every weekend, 52 weekends a year in North America. Some are very big and some are very small. For more information on what upcoming powwows will be taking place visit powwows.com..... BWAhahahahaaha!

I have a very small difficulty to face. Though it might be a thousand miles inside North America to a pow wow, I am a couple of thousand miles further away.

Did I already tell you, that I dislike flying since the last flight 15 years ago to Berlin where I thought the plane and I am as a passenger in the plane would fall to the ground because that plane behaved to me as if it wanted to fall apart in a thousand pieces?



Yeah, who wants to live forever?

Somewhere I have heard that you shall have organized once upon a time a real pow wow in Germany. If that will ever happen again until 2030 may be 2040, let me know. You will have a least one German supporting spectator.

[OLChemist]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

... I am a couple of thousand miles further away.

The big silver bird solves that.

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

Did I already tell you, that I dislike flying...

Say your prayers, down a couple Benadryls and you'll wake up in time to meet our super friendly customs agents. You're far more likely to be killed in car.

Berlin to Minneapolis/St Paul, Minneapolis/St Paul to Rapid City, SD and rent a car. You could be in the heart of the Paha Sapa seeing all those things the books you've been reading talk about. You'll never even come close to understanding Indian people until their homelands speak to you.

Besides, lots of powwows in that area. Plus it's one of the two the prettiest places on Earth, but I might be biased.

[alumphfres]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

If one doesn't want to watch a spectacle what pow wow is a good choice?

Traditional powwows!?!? You know the ones - give-aways, Owl Dances, no intertribals, dancing in your tee-shirt and blue jeans, family reunion time, blankets on the bleachers... just for fun, but still respectful.

[Toolbox]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

I have a very small difficulty to face. Though it might be a thousand miles inside North America to a pow wow, I am a couple of thousand miles further away.

Did I already tell you, that I dislike flying since the last flight 15 years ago to Berlin where I thought the plane and I am as a passenger in the plane would fall to the ground because that plane behaved to me as if it wanted to fall apart in a thousand pieces?



Yeah, who wants to live forever?

Somewhere I have heard that you shall have organized once upon a time a real pow wow in Germany. If that will ever happen again until 2030 may be 2040, let me know. You will have a least one German supporting spectator.

I hate flying too but if you want to experience something in person then you got to do what it takes to get there. Flying is actually very safe and the planes have gotten a lot better over the years. Bad turbulence is still terrible but even that only last a few minutes. My advice - pay a few extra Euros and fly on one of the larger airlines since you will usually get better service and a more comfortable seat with more leg room, which makes all the difference on longer flights.

As far as where to go - fly to beautiful and sunny California. Yes, it's a longer flight but it's worth it. The reason I say California is that there is a lot to do and see during the week when the powwows aren't happening. You can go to the beach, Hollywood, Disney Land, take the train along the coast, and many other fun things. Then hit up the powwows on the weekends. In late September we webcast live from Morongo, which is always a nice powwow surrounded by picturesque desert and mountain views, free to attend, and it's attached to a nice casino and right near outlet shops. It is also not far from the famous Joshua Tree National Park.

[WhoMe]

Well, Curiosity got the best of me. LOL I went on the biggest night of GON. Here's my report:

There were NO intertribals, the regular contests started at midnight and we got out of there at 3am!

[wardancer]

So did you enjoy it ?
I have to admit , I watched the Jr. Tradish , Men's Tradish and Men's Tradish special comps ! That's all the spectacle I could stand ! LOL Good Dancers and Great singing !

[neling4]

Originally Posted by WhoMe

It's that time of year again. GON, yeah or nay?

Nay! Too far, too expensive, too crowded and way too political. I heard a rumor that the organizers aren't even ndn, so it seems that someone is making big bucks from cultural appropriation.

Anyway, I failed my DNA test and grew too fat for my dance dress.

[Ndnsoldierboy]

I have no interest going to this powwow. It’s not even run by NDNs. And to pay to get in is just plain stupid to do.

[ches]

Small pow wows friendly, respectful, like family. Big pow wows political, competition, win that money.