[Montanaa]

Hi there! I am Montana, 14 years old:)
I'm new to this site. I stumbled upon it while researching about powwows!:) Alright, so I have a question...
Are white people allowed to dance at powwows? I am 'white,' but my mom is native and I have my status card and tribal ID. I've always wanted to dance at a powwow, but I really am not wanting to offend anymore or look like a wannabe there! My mom was a powwow dancer when she was younger. I took after my dads side- blonde hair, but I have my moms face shape and eyes.
My grandma wanted me to, because she is known among the native community around here, but I am too worried.


Sorry if I offend anyone! I asked something like this on Yahoo and got attacked o.o

Best regards!

[wardancer]

This has been discussed here before and most of the time whatever answer is given is not the answer you expect. LOL

Anyone can dance at an inter-tribal powwow. With that said , there will always be some who object.

Now , my question to you : If your mother is native and your grand-mother is native , why do you identify yourself as white ? I am not a full-blood , but I identify as native. My grandmother always said "you are either ndn or not , there is no in between"

It seems to me if you have your tribal ID , then do what you want ! It says you're native.

[wanjica_the_one]

If your grandmother really wanted you to dance. She would have gotten your regalia together and you wouldn't be here asking, you would be dancing.

[AmigoKumeyaay]

Originally Posted by Montanaa

Hi there! I am Montana, 14 years old:)
I'm new to this site. I stumbled upon it while researching about powwows!:) Alright, so I have a question...
Are white people allowed to dance at powwows? I am 'white,' but my mom is native and I have my status card and tribal ID. I've always wanted to dance at a powwow, but I really am not wanting to offend anymore or look like a wannabe there! My mom was a powwow dancer when she was younger. I took after my dads side- blonde hair, but I have my moms face shape and eyes.
My grandma wanted me to, because she is known among the native community around here, but I am too worried.
Sorry if I offend anyone! I asked something like this on Yahoo and got attacked o.o

Best regards!

You are 14 years old? Welcome to the forum. Did you talk with your mom about the Yahoo
"attack"?

You say your mom is Native, and used to powwow.

You say that you've always wanted to dance powwow.

.....If your grandmother is known around the community, don't they also know YOU?

Don't you know any other teenagers that dance powwow? Your Cousins, or Aunties, uncles?

You list all these connections, but you call yourself "white". Hmmm....

What dance style would you dance? What drum groups you like?

[subeeds]

Originally Posted by wardancer

This has been discussed here before and most of the time whatever answer is given is not the answer you expect. LOL

Anyone can dance at an inter-tribal powwow. With that said , there will always be some who object.

Now , my question to you : If your mother is native and your grand-mother is native , why do you identify yourself as white ? I am not a full-blood , but I identify as native. My grandmother always said "you are either ndn or not , there is no in between"

It seems to me if you have your tribal ID , then do what you want ! It says you're native.

This^^^^. I don't understand. If people know your family, why don't they know you, also?

[Joe's Dad]

You see. This is why people don't come back. You gave them these rude answers and you make them feel bad.

[Joe's Dad]

Just saying.

This is me ---->

[AmigoKumeyaay]

Originally Posted by Joe's Dad

You see. This is why people don't come back. You gave them these rude answers and you make them feel bad.

.
We don't want to be Jerks...now do we?

[AmigoKumeyaay]

just kidding !!! ^^^^

[AmigoKumeyaay]

Maybe we got CATFISHED ?

[Montanaa]

Originally Posted by AmigoKumeyaay

You are 14 years old? Welcome to the forum. Did you talk with your mom about the Yahoo
"attack"?

You say your mom is Native, and used to powwow.

You say that you've always wanted to dance powwow.

.....If your grandmother is known around the community, don't they also know YOU?

Don't you know any other teenagers that dance powwow? Your Cousins, or Aunties, uncles?

You list all these connections, but you call yourself "white". Hmmm....

What dance style would you dance? What drum groups you like?

Hi, sorry for the months late reply... I kind of forgot my password on here and forgot about the site afterwards and just found it again...
It's because my mom stopped dancing when we moved away from my Grandma.I don't know why.
My grandma lives several hours away from us so I don't know the people she knows that well as I visit every so often.
A few of my Aunts dance but they too, live far... well, across Canada from me, to be exact.

And haha, I don't know what to call it. Mixed-raced? Native?

[AmigoKumeyaay]

No worries...

thanks for getting back.

I grew up all over, apart from blood relatives, and culture.


All good, things will work out for you!

[OLChemist]

Welcome back.

As I suspect you already know, phenotype doesn't make an Indian. Nor does paper. Indian relatives and community enculturating you make an Indian. Sounds like you've got that down.

However, as we fair skinned mixed bloods know -- just like our dark-skinned kin -- phenotype is often the first thing strangers use to sort people into "us" and "them" categories. Reflecting on the mists of prehistory, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I seem to recall that at 14 I found it pretty important to fit into the right "us" group. At that age, there was little worse than feeling like the oddball, except being singled out as the misfit. I'm not putting you down for this.

If you are concerned about not fitting in, then I would suggest getting your family to help you out. Perhaps they could get you some tobacco to take to some respected local dancers in the style you want to dance. Take you time and talk to them, maybe you can find a mentor to guide you into the circle. Under the tutelage of an established dancer, you're less likely to face judgement or commit a faux pas when entering the circle.

That is this old lady's free advice. It may only be worth exactly what you paid for it, LOL.

[whitecoyote]

I am non Indian and have been dancing powwow since I was 11. Before I attend a powwow I usually call the contact phone number just to ensure that it is an "open" powwow and that anybody can dance. I've never been turned down, in fact, I've never even heard of a "closed" powwow.

It's been a long time since I have danced in Montana but I remember that the people I met there were very friendly and no one got in my face. By all legal definitions, you seem to be Indian, in fact but remember, blonde hair does not a white man make.

Go dancing and stop thinking about what other people are thinking. Just Dance!
White Coyote

[Montanaa]

Thanks everyone!
I will move forth with being a dancer:) I spot to my mom and she is all up for it as long as I am! Once again, thank you!!!!

[Wakayosis]

You said your family was scattered across Canada? If you are living in one of the bigger Canadian cities you can always drop in at one of the Friendship Centres (aboriginal community centre).

They often have after school/weekend/summer activities for kids. Some even have dancing classes! One place to start. And as most have said, you have "one foot in the door" and are part First Nation, by all means, learn about who you are and your culture!

Good luck!

[Montanaa]

Originally Posted by Wakayosis

You said your family was scattered across Canada? If you are living in one of the bigger Canadian cities you can always drop in at one of the Friendship Centres (aboriginal community centre).

They often have after school/weekend/summer activities for kids. Some even have dancing classes! One place to start. And as most have said, you have "one foot in the door" and are part First Nation, by all means, learn about who you are and your culture!

Good luck!

It turns out there is a Friendship Centre near me! Thank you!!! I will talk to my mom about it! This helped a lot!!

[jack2011]

Originally Posted by Montanaa

Are white people allowed to dance at powwows?

Yes (at least, at some powwows).
I have seen (100 %) white, blonde-blue eyed whites..... (100%) Black (born in Trinidad, not 1 drop of NDN blood in him) dance at the Six Nations Pow Wow. Not during the Inter-tribal, but in full regalia during competition.

Originally Posted by wardancer

Anyone can dance at an inter-tribal powwow. With that said , there will always be some who object.

Yes.
The practice should be outlawed. Why invite whites and othe non-NDN's to to sully the circle.
In fact, why allow whites and others to attend Pow Wows at all.
Pow Wows = for NDN's only. Stamp out Wannabes (these can go to Germany for their Pow Wows).

[wardancer]

Originally Posted by jack2011

In fact, why allow whites and others to attend Pow Wows at all.
Pow Wows = for NDN's only. Stamp out Wannabes (these can go to Germany for their Pow Wows).

So I guess you'll have to form some ndn police to decide who's ndn and who isn't........sounds like a purist idea.....hmmmm kinda like Hitler !

[White Powwow Dancer]

Originally Posted by jack2011

Yes (at least, at some powwows).
I have seen (100 %) white, blonde-blue eyed whites..... (100%) Black (born in Trinidad, not 1 drop of NDN blood in him) dance at the Six Nations Pow Wow. Not during the Inter-tribal, but in full regalia during competition.



Yes.
The practice should be outlawed. Why invite whites and othe non-NDN's to to sully the circle.
In fact, why allow whites and others to attend Pow Wows at all.
Pow Wows = for NDN's only. Stamp out Wannabes (these can go to Germany for their Pow Wows).

What happens when they are married to indians are the booted out?