Whistling or Not to Whitle A Drum?

[Niwiwan2005]

During the last two years, I've noticed an increase in the rate in which individuals are whistling drums. I've seen whistles being used by young and older males; in one a case, by a jingle dress dancer. In addition, whistlers blew these whisltes on all times of songs from Grand entries to exhibition songs to honor songs. I guess I would like to hear first, what people think of the ways people use these whistles and second, who should or shouldn't being using these whistles? I welcome any and all views on this question.

[NativeBabyDoll]

Whistling

Well on my rez, whistling the drum is not aloud by anyone at anytime. The elders here have asked time n time again that whistling not be done but still there are some that do, i guess just to be rebellious. I guess listening to what the elders tell us to and not to do is a joke for them.(my own opinion)

[Niwiwan2005]

I agree...Listen to the Elders!

It is the elders and veterans who often take a teaching role in this regard. I guess some have loss the respect for these teachers???

[Pheji Wanbli]

to whistle a drum

in my teaching its a lakotha dakotha

[Wojapi4Me]

in my teaching its a lakotha dakotha way of hounering a drum and to keep the spirit of the song going alive because that dancer is being moved in spirit by that song ....only a sundancer that has been gifted the whistle should do this its not a joke! or for show. and dance fans should only be used in summer months out of respect for all the sundancers and singers that are in cermony out west. because there out their praying ,, danceing,, fasting,,,, for everyone every tribe. mita kuye ayasin my two cent..

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Apples and oranges there man.

[WhoMe]

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Apples and oranges there man.

Sundancers are the only ones to have the right to blow whistles at powwows?


Hmmmmmmmmmm?


I agree apples and oranges!

[Native 1]

I agree apples and oranges but a sundancer will not always dance in the pow wows..so what then?? and I do know that when you sundance that doesn't give you the right to blow that whistle at the pow wow and the whistle that the whistle carrier has is not necessarily an eagle bone whistle..maybe too much info..but there is a difference in the reasons why you have a whistle..and if you don't know ask a sundancer or ask a pow wow whistle carrier..theres a lot more but thats all I will say....

[WhoMe]

... I do know that when you sundance that doesn't give you the right to blow that whistle at the pow wow and the whistle that the whistle carrier has is not necessarily an eagle bone whistle..maybe too much info..but there is a difference in the reasons why you have a whistle..and if you don't know ask a sundancer or ask a pow wow whistle carrier..theres a lot more but thats all I will say....

[DANCINGEAGLE]

in my teaching its a lakotha dakotha way of hounering a drum and to keep the spirit of the song going alive because that dancer is being moved in spirit by that song ....only a sundancer that has been gifted the whistle should do this its not a joke! or for show. and dance fans should only be used in summer months out of respect for all the sundancers and singers that are in cermony out west. because there out their praying ,, danceing,, fasting,,,, for everyone every tribe. mita kuye ayasin my two cent..

Never heard that before. Alot of sundancers don't dance at powwows. I've always been taught that an elder, a veteran, or a well respected male dancer could carry a whistle.

[Pheji Wanbli]

geesh i really gave two much info

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but i feel if someone like sitting bull or gaul got on here to explain somthing in the right way they would be ? by some know it all....i dont claim to know eveything,,,iam a meek..poor pituful soul tryin too shed som light ... you really should not ? why anyway!
Apples and oranges there man.

[Wojapi4Me]

Call me a know-it-all or what you will...and just for the record I'm not questioning anything. But, I do know for a fact that being a sundancer and carrying that sort of whistle has NOTHING to do with being a whistle carrier at wacipis...that's what I meant by apples and oranges...they are two different and separate things.

[apacheheart]

AHO Singerdad...most people forget that Sundancers aren't the only one's that have whistles at dances,what I don't like is going to some dances and seeing the same guys blowing their whistles at every powwow I go to.It's not just for show,and they should respect that....keep smilin'1

[powwowbum49]

One thing I don't like about this whole lumping together of traditions thing is not everyone does this stuff the same. Way back at southern dances it was common to hear whistles blown, especially by fancy dancers. The whole whistling up the song thing was never the case at Southern powwow. There were no whistle carriers and now one is hard pressed now to see or hear a dancer blow a whistle at a southern dance and when they do there is always someone that acts like they shouldn't be doing that. I can understand if you are up north then respect there ways of doing things, but way must the southern boys bend to that in their back yard?

Sorry just had to vent there!!!

[WhoMe]

The whole whistling up the song thing was never the case at Southern powwow.

Not too many people know there is an actual whistle carriers song sung at some man dances/Heloshkas. During this time, whistle carriers dressed in straight dance cloths will blow their whistles for the duration of the song.

On the other hand...

About 10 years ago there was a big inside powwow in the building where the Otoe-Missouria Casino is today. There was a northern plains whistle carrier who invited all the Oklahoma whistle carriers to come dance with him.

In all, 18 Oklahoma dancers got up and danced with him as "whistle carriers?" Hmmmmmmm?


Anyways, bum you're right. Oklahoma fancy dancers have always blown their dance whistles without expecting the drum to sing 4 more times! I know today they are cautious because they know there is meaning in blowing a whistle by northern whistle carriers.

[Pheji Wanbli]

hear the truth when spoken

Sundancers are the only ones to have the right to blow whistles at powwows?


Hmmmmmmmmmm?


I agree apples and oranges!