Heat???

[Wojapi4Me]

After hearing about all the heat problems at Rosebud this past weekend and all the heat-related problems at other pow wows all summer long, I got to thinking...

Maybe it's time all pow wows across the country take Oklahoma's lead and just have intertribals and contests at night once it cools down some. Granted, a lot of times it doesn't cool down much, but at least the sun isn't beating down on you anymore. Afternoons are perfect for specials, giveaways, honorings, etc. Then, nighttime would just be dancing. You could still get all the categories in...they do it in OK.

Just a thought.

[Migiziwomen]

you know that is a great idea, I mean it makes sense right. although Mille Lacs never has that problem it is always rainy and chilly. well cept last year, I did not go, it was hot and sunny. hmmm, I wonder? iiiiishhh, lol.
my dot is from Rosebud, been meaning to head out there, maybe this year befor it gets to icky.
Hinkly on the other hand seems like there is almost always someone dropping in the ring. usualy it is because they are not drinking enough water, man you really got to drink gallons to keep going sometimes.

[superndngyrl]

If the committee isn't organized u end up pow-wowing til like 3 or 4 in the morning on Sunday night. Then u have to drive home and go to work the next morning.

I love okie pow-wows but thats the only thing i don't like...

[Lakota_winyan]

well the other thing is they give em songs back to back..in 100+ degree weather is jus crazee..let them(whomever decides that go out there and dance back to back 3-4 songs) then maybe the dancers can do that..but it jus seems they get all whatever..and they don't consider the health..of people or I should say the safety...then there's no air whatsoever in the arena..no water between the songs..hmmm..maybe the dancers should start holding those committee's accountable..they won't listen til 6 dancers are taken for heat exhaustion..it's just common sense when its humid and hot to take it slow..but...don't know what those pw comm are trying to accomplish except what? I dk..

[Migiziwomen]

I remember one year at Hinkley, bout what 7 years ago or so, anyway it was so hot we were like spritzing the elders with water bottles and them songs were just going and going. they were dropping that year also. never been to an OK powwow, but that was my thought, that it would or could get way to late.

[thizgirlpowwows]

Its too much when the temperature is 109 and all the junior and teen category are dancing to 2 songs back to back, the teen girls fancy had to dance to 3 songs, i know i had to walk with my daughter around the arbor after she finished contesting b/c she was feeling faint too......After the 6 girls fainted from heat exhaustion, they decided to wait until it cooled off, but even then, 2 more adult dancers left the arena........i dont think anyone thought this would happen, but it was pretty scary........i know in wyoming they dance at night, but like ndngyrl said, you dont want to be dancing until 3 or 4 in the morning and be super-tired driving home to get to work.

[Wojapi4Me]

I totally understand the late night driving thing...why not have contests on different nights? They do this at the Delaware Homecoming pow wow in Copan and it runs pretty dang smooth. Friday night is for Tiny Tots, Juniors and Teens; Saturday is all women's categories and Sunday is all men's categories. If you only have a Friday-Sunday afternoon pow wow, you could double up and have all female categories (all ages) on one night and male the next. Any ties could be taken care of early on Sunday and the winners could be announced mid-afternoon giving people plenty of time to drive home.

I never really understood the mult-session contests anyways. It takes away from the pow wow in my opinion because you spend most of your time sitting around waiting for your song. I'd rather contest in one session and have the rest for intertribals.

[timmy tiger]

I just happened into this site, sort of.

I can't speak for every pow wow, but I was told by a guy that I know who runs a contest pow wow that he breaks up the contests for money. What he told me was that they do one set of contests, then intertribals and while the intertribals are going on that that's ususally when the audience gets up and goes around shopping and spending money at the vendors and food places---which he runs one of them as well. He said that if they did all the contests at one time, then people would only come to see that and no one (or not many) would go shopping and the vendors would not make money and come back.

At one of his pow wow's it rained really heavily and the dancers wouldn't dance (of course), he came up to me upset because the spectators were leaving. He said that several of them had told him that if the dancing was going on the they would have stayed to watch. Okay, I never said anyone was all that bright. This is one that goes on in June--it's either extremely hot or it rains something fierce.

[Wojapi4Me]

I just happened into this site, sort of.

I can't speak for every pow wow, but I was told by a guy that I know who runs a contest pow wow that he breaks up the contests for money. What he told me was that they do one set of contests, then intertribals and while the intertribals are going on that that's ususally when the audience gets up and goes around shopping and spending money at the vendors and food places---which he runs one of them as well. He said that if they did all the contests at one time, then people would only come to see that and no one (or not many) would go shopping and the vendors would not make money and come back.

At one of his pow wow's it rained really heavily and the dancers wouldn't dance (of course), he came up to me upset because the spectators were leaving. He said that several of them had told him that if the dancing was going on the they would have stayed to watch. Okay, I never said anyone was all that bright. This is one that goes on in June--it's either extremely hot or it rains something fierce.

Frankly, I try to avoid pow wows where this is the case. I could care less if there are spectators there or not. I go to dance/sing and have a good time. I understand that vendors go to make money, but I care more about the care and comfort of the participants and tribal spectators than the regular crowd. I guess this is why I tend to gravitate towards real tribal events rather than "show" pow wows which are there for one reason and one reason only...$$$...

My main concern with this heat situation is that it keeps getting hotter each summer...with so many people (and young people at that) dropping out this summer at various dances because of heat exhaustion I'm hoping that many committees across the country will examine ways to curb this. Something should be done before a tragedy hits.

[timmy tiger]

I was just sharing what was actually said to me.

I dance, but I don't compete. So I can understand what you are saying there. Many people try to get me to compete, but that's just not for me. Alot of the pow wow's these days are just about the money.

I go to visit with my friends and people that I haven't seen in a while.

I went to one in june where the temperature got up to 103 and the dancers were falling out. The committee had no clue until someone told them, many don't dance and they don't know what it's like. This one went late, I didn't dance until the evening because of the heat. Oklahoma is nice the way that they do it. But they have the lights to do that and many don't. Unfortunately, that can be a problem as well.

[Lakota_winyan]

I think organization is very important and when you start off the weekend with exhibitions instead of contest then you will be forever tryin to catch up esp if something else comes up...thats what happened over the weekend..tryin to play catch up and dancers were having to contest 2x in a very short period of time...in extremely hot weather....the other thing that really irritates me is when the ad picks the same judges over n over ag..(its like they don't know anybody else..so does that same judge pick the same person over n over ag?) Like someone else said if you are gonna exhibition then might as well have certain categories dance once during the weekend...I don't know..but..comm. have to start recognizing weather is and will be an influence at their pw...and should be prepared...another thing is spot checks..you can be out there for x number of intertribals with no spot checks..and then all of a sudden whomever decides..I guess when certain dancers are out there..soooo anyways there's my 2 cents on that..

[Lakota Wiyan]

I agree with Lakota Wiyan...hee hee...that looks weird, huh?

But, I agree about the stupid spot checks. At Oglala Nation this year, my son danced every single intertribal, I tossed him a bottle of water every time he came by, but I finally pulled him out of the sun to sit down for a few minutes to cool off. Wouldnt you know, the next song was the last intertribal, and they did a spot check! I saw people running out there from the sides who had sat down RIGHT after grandentry! How unfair. I explained to him that he wasnt there for points or money ( he dances with his lil cowboy hat, to honor all his cowoby relatives), so it didnt really matter to him, hes so cool! BUT< I did see two of the Golden Age men step out of that song to grab some water, and of course the song ended, and they were turned away! I felt so angry at that. Those ADs get to stand up at the Crows Nest in the shade, so they aren't suffering in the 112 degrees like all the dancers! (well in this case, it was Chico, and we all know HE knows what its like) I just hope that it DOESNT take a death or two to change things up. Putting the contest off til the evening, and saving the afternoons for honorings and special and all the other "extras" that are becoming common, seems like a better way of keeping things safe, and traditional!

My two cents!!

[Lakota Wiyan]

I agree with Lakota Wiyan...hee hee...that looks weird, huh?

But, I agree about the stupid spot checks. At Oglala Nation this year, my son danced every single intertribal, I tossed him a bottle of water every time he came by, but I finally pulled him out of the sun to sit down for a few minutes to cool off. Wouldnt you know, the next song was the last intertribal, and they did a spot check! I saw people running out there from the sides who had sat down RIGHT after grandentry! How unfair. I explained to him that he wasnt there for points or money ( he dances with his lil cowboy hat, to honor all his cowoby relatives), so it didnt really matter to him, hes so cool! BUT< I did see two of the Golden Age men step out of that song to grab some water, and of course the song ended, and they were turned away! I felt so angry at that. Those ADs get to stand up at the Crows Nest in the shade, so they aren't suffering in the 112 degrees like all the dancers! (well in this case, it was Chico, and we all know HE knows what its like) I just hope that it DOESNT take a death or two to change things up. Putting the contest off til the evening, and saving the afternoons for honorings and special and all the other "extras" that are becoming common, seems like a better way of keeping things safe, and traditional!

My two cents!!

[Wojapi4Me]

Wow, I couldn't agree more with Lakota winyan and Lakota wiyan :)

Spot checks are one of the most idiotic ideas ever to come to pow wows. I try to dance just about every intertribal that comes along...not for points, but just because I enjoy the music and like dancing. I might go take a break and get something to drink if a stinky drum comes up in rotation...but if the singers are jamming, I'm out there!! I've argued before that spot checks are unfair to families...especially to women contestants who, a lot of times, have to look after several children and might be in the middle of a feeding, a changing, or simply handing out snacks and juice boxes when they call for a spot check. It just doesn't make sense to me. Even if they have help from their spouse or an auntie...one of them is going to miss that spot check.

Going back to the heat...I'd love to see contests just be at night. It's just getting too hot...I read today that Phoenix broke their record by having 29 days in a row where the temps. reached at least 110 degrees!!!!!!!!!!

I contend that it's very, very possible to have night-only contests and get in plenty of dancing and still get all the specials and honorings in...and there's really no reason why we should have to contest for four-five sessions...get it done in one...give us two songs and let that be that.

[Nezbah]

Okay......... let's stop and look what's been happening around the world with the heat..... 2 very well known and very in-shape soccer players just died because of this heat exhaustion. There has been other powwows in the past in which dancers have fallen or passed on because of diabetic attacks due to heat exhaustion. When is a committee going to say ........ 'enuff'...... I have been at powwows that are soooo hot not even the dancers, singers, or people other than headstaff are not given food or water. What happened to 'hospitality'??? Why should only the headstaff be given water, fruit, or whatever to keep them hydrated. Why isn't the committee's fully prepared to attend to someone who may be having a diabetic attack or heat exhaustion. I have friends who have passed out or fainted in the arena, or even had diabetic attacks, and the committee/hosts didn't even come over to help. If these so called big powwows have all this contest $$$$, etc well dammit use some of it on helping the dancers/singers, not just the headstaff. Feed the people, water the people, help the people, its those who come to support your powwows from long ways who should be helped out too, not just fend for yourself. Powwows have become so selfish and self absorbed, its disgusting. Maybe its time to start giving back to those who support you. I dunno, I run powwows and make sure the committee is giving back as much as we can to the people, the elders, and the kids. I was taught it was a community helping out the community, being there for others to have a good time singing and dancing. Maybe that's why I haven't opted to do contests at the powwow yet, I do ours to benefit the children during the Holiday season. But, hey, that's just me.

I have seen sick people at powwows, cared for them, stayed with them until the ambulance came, including following them to the hospital to make sure they were okay. But the disheartening thing was that the committee didn't even give a 'rats a**' about them. There was only one committee down in Indio one year that really cared about someone to go that road, kudos to them. But, so many committee's are so self-involved that no one goes to check on someone. All it takes is 1 person, just one. Okay......... I am getting all urked here........LOL

Soooooooo I say, those of you who go on committee's start remembering those who support you and pay them respect by honoring those at least with some fruit and water...... The one's who do, yeahhhhhhh, thank you.