Whistlemen

[Fat Albert]

Thats a great question Who. I don't know any of those folks so it would be interesting to know. On the side, the folks in my immediate family that have eagle bone whistles got them through sun dance or through NAC. I have never seen them use those at pow wow or war dance.

On another side, the whistle song is interesting. I think it is lost but I know some that identify a song as the whistle song. I do not have an extensive knowledge of Ponca songs but I have not stumbled on a song that talks about that yet.

[Historian]

In "Societies of the Iowa, Kansa and Ponca Indians" by Alanson Skinner, Anthropological Papers, Vol. XI, Part IX, American Museum of Natural History, NY, 1915, (P. 715), there is mention of Cane or Reed Whistles being used as follows:

"This dance (I'uNke waci) was connected with the i'u^ke waru'hawe, or Fork-tailed Hawk war bundle...His bundle had one great virtue above all others. It had a song, which, when its owner gave it, could cause a storm to arise and drive back fleeing foemen....After the return from a successful raid, early some morning the hawk-skin from the bundle would be raised on a pole, and the people would dance about it, singing songs as in praise, while tobacco was heaped beneath it...This dance was given annually, in May, when the cottonwood buds fall. All the women dressed up and painted their faces and their hair partings with vermilion before taking part. A scalp dance was usually held in connection with this dance, and those who had taken a scalp were entitled to blow on a reed flute or whistle..."

[Fat Albert]

Interesting! Thanks for the additional info Historian. With this info going back to what Glendanh Zhinga mentioned earlier in the Straight Dancing with a bustle thread, this whistle could very well have been put away not because the song was lost but because the related bundle and traditions had been put away. So in turn it would seem the song has gone? Maybe it is like so many of those individual songs that will never be heard again in public... they exist but just don't have a practical reason to be used any more. Who knows but maybe this falls under the category of stuff I just don't need to know. I'm ok with that.

[Fat Albert]

Historian,
I found another mention of reed whistles in some side reading I was doing. From LaFlesche's writing on the Osage War & Peace Ceremonies.

page 40 of the Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 101 (1939)

At break of day the two Chief Xthe'-ts'a-ge arise and each blows a reed whistle, which he carries throughout the ceremony, as a signal for the warriors to rise and prepare for the morning procession.

[wa-zha-zhe]

Most powwow people are familiar with northern whistlemen. As the grass dance spread north, one of the ceremonial positions in the Omaha dance and grass dance societies was the whistle carrier. When a whistle carrier blows their whistle over a drum, normally the drum will sing another four leads.

Are there also whistlemen among straight dancers? If so when is the appropriate time to blow their whistle? Does blowing a whistle have the same meaning as when a northern dancer blows it?

While reading the post's in this thread, it reminded me of a Ponca Song that was taught to me by Morris Lookout. After teaching me the words to this song he told me the literal translation of this song.

He told me that there was a Giant that lived outside of these people's camp. And, that the Giant would often raid the camp by coming in and taking their food, having his way their women, beating up the men and just having his way in general while in their camp.

Upon his arrival into their camp he would blow a whistle. This is how the people of this camp knew he was on his way into their camp. It frightened them whenever they heard his whistle coming.

Early one morning, a few men of the camp sought the Giant out and slayed him. They took his whistle and on their way back into their camp they started blowing the whistle. Hearing the Giant's whistle, once again frightened the people of the camp until they recognized the men of their camp returning with the whistle that once belonged to the Giant.

Whenever this song is sung at the Annual Osage Dances differenct ones with the right to carry these whistles, only blow them during a particular part of the song. This song is only sung on Saturday Night. It is a moving experience to behold.

[Gledanh Zhinga]

Wa-zha-zhe,
Good wintertime story and good information.

[WhoMe]

He told me that there was a Giant that lived outside of these people's camp. And, that the Giant would often raid the camp by coming in and taking their food, having his way their women, beating up the men and just having his way in general while in their camp.

wa-zhaz,

Are you talkin' bout' Indian Camp in Pawhuska - last summer - or a camp a long time ago???


*L

j/k

[CHEROSAGE]

I don't believe the Giant came to the camps last year. IF he did he didn't come to our house or if he did we were at the Casino.

[WhoMe]

I don't believe the Giant came to the camps last year. IF he did he didn't come to our house or if he did we were at the Casino.

CHERO,

Were there any reports of anybody getting beat up or having their way with women in or around the Wakon Iron?

[wa-zha-zhe]

Even Giants know not to mess with Osages...

[WhoMe]

Even Giants know not to mess with Osages...

*LOL


Dang Wa-zhaz....


You made me spit water on my monitor!

[CHEROSAGE]

CHERO,

Were there any reports of anybody getting beat up or having their way with women in or around the Wakon Iron?

No, no one got messed up that I saw.

Have you ever tried to have your own way with any of our ladies? I know that I would never mess with a group of Osage ladies. They would just plum rip you apart.

[anishinabealltheway]

I have a whistle. I never blow my whistle; seems like a waste of a whistle.

One time at KBIC a guy whistled a drum. Some Canadian dude grabbed the mike from the MC and went APE SH*T. He threatened to shut the powwow down and everything. How does one shut down a powwow anyway?

[WhoMe]

Have you ever tried to have your own way with any of our ladies? They would just plum rip you apart.

Ohhhhh....I've gotten ripped apart a "FEWWWWWW" times. !!!!!!



*L


I couldn't help myself. Them Wahzhazhe girls sure are purdy!!!!

[CHEROSAGE]

You know, I can remember the time when I would see a group of young ladies coming down the road towards the Wakon Iron and Hope/Pray they would smile giggle and even say something to me. NOW, I just wouldn't mind if they just noticed me. An Old gray headed heavy, belt about to break the straps, man with a limp. My wife doesn't mind if I go to these dances without her anymore. I'm not sure what she is thinking, I know I'm still a young man at heart anyway.