Fixed Contests, Tampered Ballots, "business as usual" now getting police attention?

[Wakalapi]

You dance at a powwow, you are one of the best that day, but so-and-so's cousin, son or nephew wins "just because" and deep inside, you knew it'd be that way. But you just shake your head, and with a disappointed exhale, you don't let it get you down because you know that it has been that way at a lot of powwows for many years. We just accept it.

But what if things were finally different? What if the powwow committee said "no" to the person wanting to tilt the results as has been done so many times in the past? And what if the police were called in and charges of theft, malicious mischief and fraud were thrown around???

Here is a story that was posted on a MySpace Bulletin. Check it out on my own li'l Forum ... I'm too lazy to cut and paste...

Powwow Time Online › Forums › Community › The Soap Box › "Powwow Cheats Look Out!" Reposted from MySpace

[Privateer6]

Interesting. While it is a criminal act, wouldn't tribal authorities want to investigate and deal with it instead, or is that not possible?

Personally I've seent his happen only one time, and it ticked off not only the dancers, but alot of the spectators. Especially since one of those placing lost a roach feather!

[Wakalapi]

I was told it will be the Puyallup Nation Police doing the investigation and therefor the Puyallup Tribal Court would be the primarily seat of authority for hearing the case. There is such as widespread reputation amongst some of the bigger powwows that this happens "all the time" (whether that part is true or not) that people have just learned to joke it off and are more likely too afraid to make waves. Retaliation can come in many forms, and even subtler ones such as ostracizing a rival's family and tribal political nonsense, and fear of even these things can be a motivation to just let it slide -- until letting it slide becomes its own tradition of sorts.

[singfromDheart]

Sadly, I'm not surprised by the findings at all. Just surprised that it has taken so long for someone to actually do something about it! Let's not even get started on the drumming/singing aspect of it!!

[MayChe]

I wonder if this case will open the door for other accusations at other powwows...

[Nezbah]

We can say this is all sooooooo sad, which it is, but then again we all have known bout these kinds of 'shady' contest results for years. None of us, including me, did nothing really about it, just shrug our shoulders and say 'oh well'. We all know as dancers and singers we have to be in the circuit or an area for a while in order to get known. It's taken my lil one 4-5 years to really get recognized, name-wise, for his style. I know people like his dancing and he proves it, but what bout those dancers who are still 'green' or singers, have not the experience yet and still place because so-so is on the committee or from the hometown. I guess in general as a native community we tend to 'pass off' things like this for the fear of what may come around back to us. As we all know life is a circle and if you intefere with it in any way, it will come back to you.

It will be interesting to see what comes of all this, what powwows will be investigated, and what new 'requirements' will be needed regarding fed tax.....etc.

Let's just go back to Tradish powwows........just dance

[woggs]

You dance at a powwow, you are one of the best that day, but so-and-so's cousin, son or nephew wins "just because" and deep inside, you knew it'd be that way. But you just shake your head, and with a disappointed exhale, you don't let it get you down because you know that it has been that way at a lot of powwows for many years. We just accept it.

But what if things were finally different? What if the powwow committee said "no" to the person wanting to tilt the results as has been done so many times in the past? And what if the police were called in and charges of theft, malicious mischief and fraud were thrown around???

Here is a story that was posted on a MySpace Bulletin. Check it out on my own li'l Forum ... I'm too lazy to cut and paste...

Powwow Time Online › Forums › Community › The Soap Box › "Powwow Cheats Look Out!" Reposted from MySpace

OMG how horrible..I think if someone was "obviously the best" than man it should be questioned..but some people just have their OWN OPINION ABOUT what is GOOD to them. I know lots of people prolly dont like my dancing. And if I go to a lil powwow and dont get in..than obviously I wasnt THEIR favorite dancer. Right?. ...so life goes on. HMM..there would be more into this too. Is the money donated? Is it something that is nationally monitored? I think by allowing OUTSIDE NON INDIAN people police powwows will actually bring more HARM than good. Can there be a group hired by indians? or damn..I dunno just not the government..please we can handle our own stuff...we dont need the whiteman's government to "POLICE" us in every way..LOL powwows..
LOL I dunno sounds a lil crazy to me. Becuase that would mean that there would need to be a mainstream set of dance standards...which is hard cuz as ndn people..we appreciate a person's dreams, ways, and styles for what and who they are as an ndn.
NOW AS FOR FAMILY drama..yeah THAT is completely different. Family should seriously not be that way. I like how Rocky Boy was ran one year..They allowed locals to dance..but not to compete becuase they wanted the visitors to enjoy the powwow. That was years ago..it aint like that these days.
N e way..unfair judging happens. It sux...we'va all been victims of it. But O well...I dont think it's a crime that someone chose someone else over you.. But yes when it comes to family judging family..than HECK THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THAT IS WRONG,..anyway heheheheheh
as I say "AS the Teepee Turns" (AS THE WORLD TURNS)..cuz its all soap opera material..hehehehe

[Veon]

Live & Let Live....

^^^^
I agree w/Woggs' concern.

Powwows do not need outside
"regulation".
That would be the pits...
investigations, interrogation,
reviews, reports.
People would have their
feelings, reputations,
hurt, etc.
(Worse than it is now)

I can just see the future.

The BIA would have a
separate dept for
powwow oversight &
regulation.
Violation of
CFR.PWW.123

If there is any oversight,
it should be within the
tribe or community.

Be careful how you proceed.

[billyjoejimbob]

So I guess I'll NEVER win.

[kneegrow_native]

I know there isn't much any government body should be able to do concerning family sponsored pow-wows and/or specials (is there?!?). Afterall, it was their money to do with as they wish.

I think that pow-wows that would have to look out would the casino pow-wows, more specifically, casinos under a state compact. These businesses are very scrutinized as it is, with state and federal auditors making regular visits.

If all the sudden an auditor decided they wanted to know about the $80,000 in prize money paid out and delved all the way to the score books and found evidence of book cooking, that would be very bad for that casino. Especially if a drum contest was fixed and a group took home over $10,000. This could be a potential Title 31 violation and talk of organized crime could start. Next thing you know, directors and managers are getting fired, a casino is fighting for their gaming license, it would be ugly.

[wa-zha-zhe]

I think the cheater should be exposed for what they are worth. And then, let the people make their own decision if they want to participate the next time they know the cheater is part of the pow-wow staff.

Somehow though, those cheaters always make it back to be a part of the Head Staff. C'mon we all know pow-wows aren't fair.

[Wakalapi]

Remember, too, this is not a case where someone went to the authorities because they thought the judging wasn't fair, etc. This is a case where someone not on the powwow committee tried to force themselves in as a "volunteer" to babysit the registration table and tabulations, and was then caught red-handed switching names around, etc., by the powwow committee and stopped. I was told the committee chair snatched the ballots and books right out of her hand and walked away, and then called a one hour meeting with the rest of the committee (the suspect then went into the meeting and started a shouting match and had to be told to leave). Then, it is a tribal police department doing the investigation and (I presume) a tribal court that will be hearing any cases and making any decisions.

So really, in this particular case it isn't about white man coming in and running things for us. But again, what doors can be opened and what camel's nose can poke under the arena tent because of this, so to speak?

[woggs]

I think that their needs to be fairness...
I hope it does happen..
MY MAIN CONCERN is...how the other person said..is that we give up some of our competence. I know that indian people are COMPETENT to take care of our own problems. Now investigations..hmm..i aint tryna overlook the prob at hand..but that takes away integrity...what i mean is..we may get a good..but it will also add some bad..by allowing more government (local) whatever..but by allowing more NON INDIAN CONTROL..I mean its like opening the door. POWWOWS being TAXED is enough..now lets deal with our OWN problems. I dunno HOW..I aint "smart enough" ..I shalll admit..but We should actually have a confernce perhaps. I guess. I mean we cant tell judges who they should and shouldnt pick. If like this style or that style..let them choose. If we mainstream HOW dancers shall be judged..than that takes away the beauty of the many differences we were given by our Creator...
What I mean is maybe a conference ..open to all powwow committees and tribes or organizations that have powwows..I would rather have us as indians peoples DO FOR OURSELVES..ya know..not GO BACK to the government..federal, state, local, whatver. We need to have something set up..I went to one powwow where the Mcs had to call out the prizes as "honourariums" ..that was a good way to start..u all know what I mean..I aint gonna say becuase there is GOV POLICING on powwows.
Like for example there is eagle feather policies at the BORDER?
One PERSON"S mess up can affect us all...YES there are A FEW feather pushers out there..but NOT all of us get our feathers in a messed up way.
ALL of mine are given to me by my father, my late husband, my grandfather..or from people as a gift.
So by opening the door to allow powwows to be POLICED..we may open the door to more than JUST that.
I dont know if im making sense..but ya get me?
Lets ..as indian people..if this is SUCH a concern..MAKE OUR OWN POLICY for powwow fairness.
I'll tell ya one thing tho...there will always be PEOPLE out there who think that something wasnt fair. REGARDLESS..ya know why? Becuase they all have their own IDEA who should and should not be picked. That great, I love the differences..I love to see someone just look so awesome..jammin..giving it their all..ya know..for me THAT person would be my pick. SOmetimes they dont get picked. But honestly....I dont think they mind. I know when I dance my butt off....and I dont get in..oh well. If I dont I dont. If I do I do. It aint gonna RUIN MY WHOLE and make me wanna quit dancing or going to powwows forever. Life is WHAT ya make it. Ya wanna just let the bad things be what they are and just focus on the good. Than for you, in your mind life will be good.
SO, lets not focus on the problem..lets focus on solutions..and discuss those.
I mean a conference ..almost how the UN is for nations...(yeah I know it doesnt always work)..but its a way for there to be policies in place while still allowing for every nation to do things their way ( Greece is prolly different from US..Canada is different fro US)..but there are still policies in place to fix problems..even add some sort of fairness.

[woggs]

Remember, too, this is not a case where someone went to the authorities because they thought the judging wasn't fair, etc. This is a case where someone not on the powwow committee tried to force themselves in as a "volunteer" to babysit the registration table and tabulations, and was then caught red-handed switching names around, etc., by the powwow committee and stopped. I was told the committee chair snatched the ballots and books right out of her hand and walked away, and then called a one hour meeting with the rest of the committee (the suspect then went into the meeting and started a shouting match and had to be told to leave). Then, it is a tribal police department doing the investigation and (I presume) a tribal court that will be hearing any cases and making any decisions.

So really, in this particular case it isn't about white man coming in and running things for us. But again, what doors can be opened and what camel's nose can poke under the arena tent because of this, so to speak?

Man..That is horrible.
I am happy to hear that things were fixed by the committee and tribe. Theres always snakes out there.
I wonder what happens to powwows that have their money stolen. I hear about this happening alot. How in the heck does someone get no checks or balances on them to where they can pocket the moolah and GO?
LOL crazy world yo.
As I say "AS the TEEPEE TURNS"..LMAO
I know I made a big deal in my last post..but these types of things happen..so what shall powwow people do?

[badmaninc]

Dude, that's just jacked up. If we start regulating it all this much then next we will be testing for steroid use. Seriously, whenever money is involved and nowadays it can be quite a bit. People's greed usually take over from honour and valour.