Holding Babies on the Dance Floor/Area

[middle of the sky]

I know my mom said we arent supposed to do this...(anishinabe) anyone else not do this?

[*~*n8ive_boo*~*]

I see alot of ppl with thier little ones out there.

Do you mind me asking y not suposed to?

[Wojapi4Me]

I know my mom said we arent supposed to do this...(anishinabe) anyone else not do this?

We don't have a taboo against this, and I'm sure lot of other tribes don't either. I know some that do.

MOTS - this is not necessarily directed at you, but more of a general statement..
Do as your tribal traditions dictate and don't judge those whose tribal traditions dictate something else.

[middle of the sky]

well im still gonna cry in the corner...aye... i dont know..i used to carry my grandkids but my mom said i cant..now i dont know what to do with my hands... aye ill ask her..and get back to ya

[*Brown Eyed Gurl*]

WELL I HOLD MY PURSE WITH BOTH HANDS BY THE HANDLE...LOL JUST GO UP TO A MALE DANCER AND HOLD HIS HAND...IM SURE HE WOULDNT MIND

[injunboy]

i dont wanna get all wordy or inform the hobbiests but basically youre offering your child to the creator.

[WhoMe]

MOTS,

That's a new one. I have seen lots of mothers hold their newborns in the arena.

Mothers have been having babies far longer that there have been powwows. *L

[Homalosa]

<----I carried this one for a while in the arena until she was too dang heavy. The last time I did was when my mom had a hard time getting her to take a nap, so she sent her out to the arena with me. Midway through the song she falls asleep. I remember barely making it around. I heard one of my Kiowa play brothers behind me and, yes, I'll admit it here, I blindly passed her back knowing he'd get her! At the end of the song he said, "Karlie, you gotta dance for yourself from now on."

[Mr Oakley]

Well as I understand in my tribe (ojibwe), you arent supposed to carry your kids while youre in the arena, and pregnant women should not dance. Same with what other people say, youre offering your offspring to the creator.
Holding your kids' hand might be a different story tho.
Just a few things a grew up learning.

[Mr Oakley]

Well as I understand in my tribe (ojibwe),

other tribes might beleive this too, and some probably don't

[AlmostThere]

. Same with what other people say, youre offering your offspring to the creator.
Holding your kids' hand might be a different story tho.
Just a few things a grew up learning.

Wait... Do you mean death???.....I dont mean to rude to your people but its not understood that well.

[kiyaanii mom]

Whome is right. Mothers have been having babies far longer than powwows have been around. But I think this particular no-no might be tied to some other traditional ceremony.

For example, there are some Dine' traditional ceremonies (not powwows) where kids are not allow to see something or be there. Enuf said.

But someone else posted somewhere on pw.com that they believe if you carry your child into the arena it looks like you are offering it to "?" so it will die. (Sounds mean, but that is how I remember someone saying it)

[WocusWoman]

While I can understand some special ceremonies that may exclude little ones from being present in order to protect them; I was taught that dancing with your babies at a powwow was the best way for them to grow up. How else do you expect them to learn their ways? What better place for children to be, than the dance arena with their parents.

[White Powwow Dancer]

I know my mom said we arent supposed to do this...(anishinabe) anyone else not do this?

I heard that same thing too. If there are safety hazards out in the dance area let mom or dad take the kid out there.

[chazziff]

i personally have never heard of not carrying your baby when you are for example dancing an intertribal. but i have heard that you should not carry a baby when you are participating in for example a memorial ...