Should AD's pick judges if they have family competing?

[badmaninc]

Times change because we let them change. Honour is not held in the same regard as it once was by many. If you have relatives dancing in a category or you have been asked to judge singers who you are related to then it is up to you to decline. Nowadays, people say it doesn't matter. I would make my children feel horrible if I were to judge them and they won their category. It would cheapen their victory. They would know it and many of the people in the powwow community would know it and I would know it. I think people need to carry themselves in a way that would make their great-grandparents proud. Money changes things because we let it. We put a price on our honor and integrity. If some wish to win by nepotism or use the judging system to secure a favourable outcome, then in the end they are only dilluding themselves. People will begin to see them for the shallow and fraudulent people they are. So in other words let people do what they want, they will anyway. It doesn't mean that people who want to be honest need to follow.

[SingingDeer]

hmmm..... that'd be like asking me to judge a model horse I had customized.... sorry, if I were asked to judge a family member I would graciuosly decline.

[ccreek10]

Things will never change. At Prairie Island last weekend, the Head Lady Southern Judge's (Tooky Brady) immediate family all won first in their respective categories. Her brother (Jr. Adults Straight), her daughter (Teen Girls Southern), her cousin, I think (Jr. Adults Southern Buckskin). Her husband placed. Her Special Contest was won by her friends and relations. Dang, I wish I was related to her. Oh well, at least everyone had a good time.

[SingingDeer]

Unfortunately that always seems to happen doesn't it... *bummer*

I gave up competing in the model horse area because some of the judges placed their friends models way high when there were much better representatives on the table....

... and since I seriously doubt I'd ever dance well enough to compete at the pow wow, I don't do the contests anyway.

I just think it's sad and unfair that it's often run that way. Personally I think that judging should be consistent so that all entries have the same skill criteria to meet.

I try to be fair when I'm judging anything... but most of the stuff I've judged isn't at pow wows... who knows maybe someday huh?
.... naw, come to think of it they'd probably never think to ask me

[jingle-babygirl]

Asking the committee in a situation like the one you mentioned makes it look obvious. If my Dad was the ARENA DIRECTOR or had ANYTHING to do with the dance competition such as the HEAD DANCE JUDGE....our entire family WOULD NOT COMPETE. We were taught that this was not proper.


Jingle Babygirl: Not saying that your fathers friend is not fair but it just doesn't look right to others.

you said in an earlier response that the head judge shouldn't pick the judges because that isn't fair and here this man does that...he wants to be fair...he wants his family to win on their own merrits and not because he is head judge...and you said that it looks obvious... well it is better than people saying that his family wins because of him and not by their dancing...i am a very fair judge...i don't go by who is head judge or who is the big name...i go by dancing nothing more and nothing less...if you look good out there than i will pick you if not i won't...i was taught to be fair!!

[Panther11Gurl]

AD are always friends with someone....or related to people dancing so does it matter?

[jingle-babygirl]

[Mr Oakley]

Things will never change. At Prairie Island last weekend, the Head Lady Southern Judge's (Tooky Brady) immediate family all won first in their respective categories. Her brother (Jr. Adults Straight), her daughter (Teen Girls Southern), her cousin, I think (Jr. Adults Southern Buckskin). Her husband placed. Her Special Contest was won by her friends and relations. Dang, I wish I was related to her. Oh well, at least everyone had a good time.

Ya Know!? Some powwows are really bad like that. I heard somethin about Delana Smith's special in Red Lake...but I aint sayin what cuz I wasnt there.

[shorty]

ive been to a lot of powwows where if you related to any of the dancers you may not be a judge for that category however i have been to a few powwows where everyones related n everyone wins even if their r like two other dancers that are the BEST dancers and dont get their points added in because they r not related they should always just have someone else step in as judge then its fair for everyone

[ac_miss]

I hear where all of you are coming from. It happens and it bites. What I hate the most is that pow-wow committees will charge a fee if you want to protest. It's usually a high price to pay and then nothing gets done.

[Wihey1]

you said in an earlier response that the head judge shouldn't pick the judges because that isn't fair and here this man does that...he wants to be fair...he wants his family to win on their own merrits and not because he is head judge...and you said that it looks obvious... well it is better than people saying that his family wins because of him and not by their dancing...i am a very fair judge...i don't go by who is head judge or who is the big name...i go by dancing nothing more and nothing less...if you look good out there than i will pick you if not i won't...i was taught to be fair!!

Sometimes things really look bad if you have family involved.

[AlmostThere]

I hear where all of you are coming from. It happens and it bites. What I hate the most is that pow-wow committees will charge a fee if you want to protest. It's usually a high price to pay and then nothing gets done.

a fee..?

[vince_j]

i remember seeing at Schemitzun and a couple of other pow wows the arena directors picking folks to be judges. a couple of times those foks declined because they knew someone in that catagory.

The 1st to 4 years of Schemitzun, I heard judges giving other judges high point/standings. Groups from the same tribe or area would bring back Championship prizes that particular year. I don't think the Schem. PW Comittee could have forseen this.

I haven't been there in a while, I hope worthy dancers are being rewarded as they should be.

Just dance hard and enjoy yourself. Your happiness and skill will show when you compete.

[dreams4u]

[jumpingeagle]

Whats Up !!!!

If People Know This Is Going Why Dont They Say Something About It ???? I Know That If I Knew This Was Going On I Would Sure Let The Right People Know !!!! I Am Pretty Sure Ego And The All Mighty Dollar Are To Blame !!!! I Have Been Pow-wowing For 26 Years And It Sure Has Change A Whole Lot Since Back In The Day !!!