GON another perspective

[Paul G]

Here is the other thread:

http://www.powwows.com/gathering/pow-wow-talk/50972-gon-another-perspective-4.html#post1300564

I'm closing this one so we can keep it all in one place.

[stick_is_airborne]

just my thoughts

I for one did not know that so many natives had issues with this gathering. I always saw it as a show & thought others must too. Goes to show one should not assume what one does not know (duh!) lol.

Anyway I'm replying because I do believe the person who wrote the original email had good intentions. If you have never attended a traditional powwow or even a "real" powwow then you will stick-up for the promoter of G.O.N. no matter what... just my opinion here... but if all you ever attend are show-like powwows chances are you will not see anything wrong with what this promoter is doing.

I read the message posted on the other thread from the Mathew's Family and did notice that he made no remarks toward the accusations of him stopping a whistle-blower and the Drum which had that honor bestowed on them. If it is true that he did that why did he not comment on it? If a family such as his has been involved in ceremonies does he not understand the value of what was happening?

I do not mean to put anyone down and I hope people who read this reply keep in mind that hard as one tries, you cannot get a certain tone across in your posts. I may come off sounding angry but I assure I am not.
Just curious and a bit more knowledgeable of how this event is run.

p.s.
Skybird... I also agree with you about the whole pageant thing. These promoters use language and tactics that most people would see nothing wrong with but in fact it's almost like putting a blindfold over their participant's eyes.

[skybird5]

I was not able to view the thread but obviously there are some issues that some of the attendees talk about. It is not worth going to a pow wow when every time you turn around you're shelling out money!!!! Especially when there is a non native running the show. All of the money that individual pulls in is outrageous. Making money off Indian people, Indian people selling out, Indian people dumb enough to think it's alright to comprise their Indian ways. I have heard that this particular individual will not even divulge info as far as income, how much he contributer to Native charities/organizations and how many homes he has. I know he doesn't have to but what has he got to hide. There's some comments I received via e-mail that were a lot worse than what I sm writing.

He even went so far as to jerk around a dancer who blew his whistle on a drum and then had the audacity to step in and stop the drum from singing. Who in their right might would disrespect our Indian people like that....someone who has no respect for Indian people but loves the money they pull in for him.

Excuse me if I am stepping on some people's toes but this sounds like those old wild west shows where Buffalo Bill used Indians and then when the going got rough he left lots of Indians stranded far from home to fend for themselves, even overseas.

You really should try to check out the other thread! You make very valid points that should be read by some of the others in that thread.

[blueskysmom]

I was not able to view the thread but obviously there are some issues that some of the attendees talk about. It is not worth going to a pow wow when every time you turn around you're shelling out money!!!! Especially when there is a non native running the show. All of the money that individual pulls in is outrageous. Making money off Indian people, Indian people selling out, Indian people dumb enough to think it's alright to comprise their Indian ways. I have heard that this particular individual will not even divulge info as far as income, how much he contributer to Native charities/organizations and how many homes he has. I know he doesn't have to but what has he got to hide. There's some comments I received via e-mail that were a lot worse than what I sm writing.

He even went so far as to jerk around a dancer who blew his whistle on a drum and then had the audacity to step in and stop the drum from singing. Who in their right might would disrespect our Indian people like that....someone who has no respect for Indian people but loves the money they pull in for him.

Excuse me if I am stepping on some people's toes but this sounds like those old wild west shows where Buffalo Bill used Indians and then when the going got rough he left lots of Indians stranded far from home to fend for themselves, even overseas.

[powwowdood]

wanna hear old folks at the band office? go to GON another perspective c' mon ya wanna hate do it somewhere else i am no GON supporter let's keep it positive ALL POW WOW is good just like like , well you know, some better some not.