Regalia Components

[DesertHawk]

Kola, I know that, traditionally, Roaches have been the dominant or only head piece for Straight Dancers.
Has anyone EVER, ever seen a Straight Dancer that chose to "break the mold?" To use something a little older, maybe, or even newer?
Like a 18 or 19th century battle trophy for example, like a Kepi hat (worn by the horse soldiers and other enlisted)? This might be the result of a vision, conventional dream, or feeling of the heart.
Input anyone?

[CHEROSAGE]

I WILL DANCE WITH MY BACONRIND(OTTER TURBIN) RATHER THAN MY PORKY.
I HAVE YET TO SEE ANY RESPECATBLE STRAIGHT DANCER WEAR ANYTHING LIKE A KEPI, COWBOY HAT, ETC......... I HAVE SEEN TRADITIONAL DANCERS WEAR OTHERSUCH ITEMS.

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR SEARCH.

[luvstraightdancrs]

Around here straight dancers wear an otter cap or roach. Some of the young boys (pre-teen) wear neither.

Wouldn't put anything other than roach or otter cap on the straightdancers in this family.

My two cents:)

[Southernstr8]

Nope not here....give me my roach any day. Only thing I have seen on other Straight Dancers was roaches or otter caps. People probably wouldn't take it to well to see a straight dancer wearing something like what you described.

Then again, as a lot of people like to remind me, times are changing and that could be acceptible in time, just takes the first brave soul to try it out and see what happens.....All I know is it won't be me!!!! :D

[Tsi-tse Wa-tsi]

I was told that the roach is a symbol and part of that Hethuska, straight dance way. The only exception is the otter hat worn by older folks.

[CHEROSAGE]

I'VE SEEN THE COMBO USED BUT IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. I THINK THE MAN WAS A SAC/FOX. I'VE ONLY SEEN A FINGERWEAVE TURBIN IN PICTURES OF SOME OF OUR ELDERS.

[Tsi-tse Wa-tsi]

I have seem a few hobbist wear that combo. For the most part the roach or turban is used.

[westwalker]

celtic design

:) Hi,I dance in powwow here in the U.K.,I dance straight dance and wear straight dance regalia,but I use celtic design[knot work] and colours from my ancestors on the regalia,these are sacred for me and I dance for my ancestors and future generations. I hope this is o.k. and not seen as dissrespectfull to people of the first nations of U.S.A. blessings,westwalker.

[Historian]

Regalia Components

The Hair Roach headdress, whether Turkey Beard or Porqupine Guardhair, is one of the oldest representations of the Ponca/Omaha Hethuska Society regalia. A painting of the Ponca warrior "Hongs-kay-dee" or "Great Chief" done by George Catlin in 1832, (now at the Smithsonian Institution) is probably one of the earliest examples of this style of headdress. The Otter Fur Turban would be the only exception to this standard tradition that I am aware of.

Although there may be some willing and brave enough to "break the mold" of tradition, I am not one of them. I will always wear my turkeybeard roach when I dance.

[Tecumapese]

Otter hat

Does any one know where I can get directions for making an otter hat. Grey Owl used to have a kit many years ago when they were in Jamica NY but there is none in there present catalog.
Many Thanks in advance

[Str8Dancer49]

Hey SDinAZ... a few years back I saw this cat at Stroud wearing a finger woven turban and a short roach.... it was basically a short sash wrapped around his head, maybe 6" wide by about 2 or 3 feet long (?), tied so the fringes hung down on either side of his roach in the back. Never did get to ask him where he was from, but he was totally dressed old school prairie style (I can't always tell the little nuanced differences between Sac n' Fox, Potawatomie, etc, etc.... so no clue where he was from).

I've also seen Ron Burgess and Melvin Kerchee Sr. wear a war bonnet w/ their clothes, but that seems to be a really rare Comanche thing.... Ron wore his in the contest at GON a few years back (maybe 94 or 95?). I'm thinkin I've seen Melvin Jr. wear a bonnet like once or twice, but could be wrong....

So as for other kinds of head gear.... how about those tradecloth and ribbonwork (w/ a couple of silver brooches) turbans w/o any otter fur? I've never seen any that are really old, so I'm thinking that's a kinda new deal (like in the last 20-30 years?). I'd actually thought about bulding one of those, but that's when I get through all the other projects lined up already! Anyway, Dave Winer (sp?) who runs American Broadcloth has one.... I don't particularly like that one, but it gave me some goot ideas.

[powwowbum49]

I am not sure if other tribes like the Potawatomie, Menomonie, Miami or other used the sash wrap and roach but I know the Sauk & Fox used to (and that is both of the 2 tribes, Sauk and Mesquakie, that later became one) I know several fellas that use them one in particular that lives in MI and he may have been the fella out at Stroud that was mentioned cause he does go out for that from time to time, but as was said before they usually dress hard core old school and my friend is no different.

As for the turban and roach combo, well you see that a lot up in Michigan, being used by traditional dancers of all ages, but I can't say I have seen any straight dancers wearing it. Never seen a trade cloth Turban, but sounds like it could be keen is done right. I wouldn't be surprised to see one fully beaded one of these days either.

[Str8Dancer49]

Hey PWbum... now that you mention it, I remember seeing Anishnabe (Ojibwe, Odawa, &/or Potawatomi, not sure which) guys wearing an otter turban and roach combo up in Michigan too.... seems like I remember it being mostly older gentlemen, but then it's been a while since I've been up that way, so I might be remembering wrong.

Hmmmm..... a fully beaded turban? Dang, now I got another project to add to my list! Maybe my sis will surprise me w/ onefor x-mas or something! hahahaha

[Str8Dancer49]

dang.... just trying to delete a double-post.....

[Tom Iron Eagle]

Other Head Gear

Seen some of the following on some Straight Dancers:

I have seen a few Finger Woven Turbans and Cloth Turbans.

And I have also seen a few Stove Top Hats used. That would symbolize trade or other means of course.

Portraits of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries by Catlin, Bodmer, King, and others do show both the Finger Woven Turban, Cloth Turban, and some Stove Top Hats.

But these are very few and far between.