Student seeking information

[mkhayes]

Hello there everyone...

I come seeking information on the communication aspects of Pow wow's. My name is Matthew Hayes, I am a journalism student at Canadore College in North Bay, Ont.

Myself and the other members of my group have chosen to showcase pow wow dancing, drums, dress, singing and how they can and are used to communicate. My groupmates and I have been reading dry text books and getting the occasional great interview, but I thought we needed from the source type information. So.... I have a favour to ask...

If you wouldn't mind, tell me in as much detail as you feel like giving, what some of the communication aspects of a pow wow are. What does some of the clothing mean? the singing? the dances? is information passed on there? agreements made? dis-agreements? art showings? these and ANY other communication related questions you guys and ladies could answer for me would be great, and very much appreciated. We can discuss things here or you can email me at [email protected].

So far doing this project I've learned alot of really cool stuff. Your culture(s) is/are incredibly interesting. I'm Irish, and if my grandpa is to be believed, we drink, fight and eat potatoes...

once again, thank you to anyone who responds, I hate reading text books, conversation is alot more interesting.

everyone take it easy...

[badmaninc]

So why do we have to do your work and research for you. If you want to learn so much because we are interesting. You need to have some kind of foundation. Sounds to me like you are trying to get it done as easy as possible. Actually it sounds more like you are lazy. What you should do is read some, then find somebody at your campus who knows somebody who is Indian and then ask questions. Take it from there. Without a foundation or base you won't know where to begin. If you really have an interest in learning it won't be so much like work but broadening your horizon. If you don't have any base to start with nothing anybody here in this forum will mean anything to you. Just my opinion.

[curiousity]

What books have you read? What resources were used for the information that you have read? Badmaninc is right on the accts of 1) you need to have a base of information or you won't understand any information you would receive in this forum. 2) It is a very good idea to read and start a foundation of information. I understand about not wanting to read, but it is essential in all aspects of life. If you are going to a foreign country and you don't read about their customs/laws then you could violate some of the customs/laws and end up in a jail or worse. Take for example that boy who was a teenager and went to China/Japan and had narcotics on him. He got caught and there penalty for that is death. His parents had to get on the news to get any reactions from the right people who could help in the situation. He ended up after a lot of negotiations getting cained with I think it was either 12/15 lashes and had to be hospitalized afterward. They didn't take it easy on him when they did it. He did get to come home though and he should be very grateful. Some of the people have not been so lucky. Same with some of the Norweign Countries. Don't give up on your search.

[Plenty Fox]

What a beautiful Sunday morning it is. I think Paul should 'hang a sign' ala 'Peanuts' that says "Advice One Dollar". Is it a full moon yet? Actually, I think it is.

[Kiwehnzii]

I know for certain that there are many resources in North Bay that you can get the answers to your questions. Why not go to them? They have a powwow there. They have a native friendship center. They have native students. They have dancers. There are a coupla good drum groups. There are native journalists. There are native proffessers. Look in your backyard.

Them natives at your college won't bite you.

[Plenty Fox]

I know for certain that there are many resources in North Bay that you can get the answers to your questions. Why not go to them? They have a powwow there. They have a native friendship center. They have native students. They have dancers. There are a coupla good drum groups. There are native journalists. There are native proffessers. Look in your backyard.

Them natives at your college won't bite you.

I sure as hell would!

[AngelFeather]

geees.. Seem like bitter people...
Why is it every time people ask a question about our Native culture everyone gets all upset then turns around and cries that no one understands the First nations people.. Ill tell you why no one understand US.... its because of our hostile attitudes towards those that want to learn...
Learning starts with questions... and people that are truly proud of thier heritage will answer instead of being rude and judgemental... This IS called POWWOWS.COM and people here claim to have great knowledge of thier heritage and traditions SO why not share them?? I could understand if this were questions concerning Sundance and sacred practices But its about Pow wows, dancing and singing... Something that was started so that White culture could try and understand our people . something that is shared with other cultures throughout the world.... seems to me that there is quite the double standard with alot of people here...
One day they cry that no one pays attention the next cry about people being too nosey LMAO. Everytime we are given the opprotunity to express ourselves we crawl in a hole and say go away... unless its only to other Natives... So very sad growth doesnt happen that way people, neither does healing.

I am really Sorry Myke for the answers given here... All you wanted to do was learn something and you were shot down for it and you asked so respectfully too, but when we Natives want something we expect it NOW... Human Rights is a 2 way street
the Site IS called POWWOWS.COM So therefore so understandable that you would come here to find answers, becasue the fact IS that people here come from all different tribes and Nations and not just one... So it would be nice to get a view point from all sides not just one cause thats what they will tell you .. is that, NOT all tribes are the same... and that all tribes have thier different dances and songs.. So why should you just stik to whats in your back yard... Cause I bet ya anything you would have gotten in trouble for only doing one tribe and told by another that "We dont do it that way" Somtimes ya just cant win ...
Again i am sorry you were made to feel our rage and hostility. I just think it was great that you came here and asked for different opinions and ideas and didnt just stick to one area of native people...
I wish you luck on your paper and hope your group finds the answers youre seeking but unfotrunately people here are still bitter about what your ancestors did to our ancestors... Time I guess will only heal those wounds.

[curiousity]

I agree AngelFeather. The point that I was trying to make was that sometimes you step on peoples toes or make mistakes and in some instances it's not just a tongue lashing. I know that I have offended and upset some people unknowingly. But they taught me something in return and that was a positive experience. Not to sound all gushy or hoity toity(better than anyone else). Good luck to MK.

[AngelFeather]

I agree AngelFeather. The point that I was trying to make was that sometimes you step on peoples toes or make mistakes and in some instances it's not just a tongue lashing. I know that I have offended and upset some people unknowingly. But they taught me something in return and that was a positive experience. Not to sound all gushy or hoity toity(better than anyone else). Good luck to MK.

yes Curiosity.. we all learn form each other thats why god, the creator, Jehovah, put us all here... was to learn... we take the best out of each other and use it to our advantage, sum people just dont like sharing tho and its sad.. christ shared, the creator shared and thats the greatets gift of all.. LOVE for one another no matter if we are black , brown, white, yellow but for sum thats a really hard lesson to learn, forgiveness of each others imperfections and learning to love and share with each other those very things that God, creator himself has given us. Sum of us are too vain to realize that we werent born with those traits, sumone taught them to us in order to have them passed on...
I have heard yeah in a perfect world... which doesnt exist but we sure as hell can try to improve the situation we have been forced into by circumstances which we ourselves have not created, and it starts by accpetance and opening our hearts to those people that seek love and answers as to why such things exist.

[Kiwehnzii]

geees.. Seem like bitter people...
Why is it every time people ask a question about our Native culture everyone gets all upset then turns around and cries that no one understands the First nations people.. .

Well Ang, give the man some answers. You were so busy blowing off steam, that you forgot to give Mike what he wanted.

I gave him my answer. Ask those closest to him. I forgot to add that he should offer some tobacco to whoever but what I said was appropriate considering the fact that there is a wealth of knowledge right in his city.

[badmaninc]

He needs to go and talk to somebody. Asking questions on here as a starting point is not right. If he got or anybody got hurt feelings for my being straightforward, then they shouldn't be asking questions. I wasn't trying to disrespect him. He needs to develop a base for his questions. Speaking to an elder in the appropriate way is the best way to do that. I don't know what he knows and if we start providing him with every little thing we may know, if that person already knows that then we sound rather condescending. Our old people said that everybody wants to learn about our culture but they don't want to do the hard work that is necessary to get there. Our old people weren't always nice in the way they taught either. It sometimes sounded harsh and that it was usually for a reason, to shake up a person so that they would go and do the work. If some are offended then its not my problem. I don't claim to know everything but some people need to know that asking questions on the internet isn't a good way to start that journey. It needs to be done the right way whereever they are at the time. Specifically we all have different teachings so he should respect the area where is at present and seek those people and elders out.

[AngelFeather]

Seems to me he has gone through other avenues of research and has not only searched for answers here on the internet. He has stated that he has read books has conducted the occasinal interview (including online interviews) and so on. I have done papers before So I know that instructors ask that you use several different methods of research and that includes internet research and listing the sources in which you got your info from. Looks to me that he was doing all of it and not just limiting himself to interviews and books, but also including people that he found to be posting things here on the net about things that they do know about and wanted more information regarding what was posted here, clarification of what people have written as not to contradict information which he may already have.

It was in my understanding that he was covering ALL his bases in order to write a clear and informative paper from all aspects and points of view including that which people write on this forum and the information in which they provide here, thats what college and University is about diggin and making sure you understand in your completeness what you are writing about and making sure you are using the correct information. What better way to ask for clarification than to ask the people that participate in such tradtions and talk about it publicly on forums such as powwows.com in order to get varying points of view and im sure he can decifer that which he does and does not need.

[Kiwehnzii]

I don't know what you want Mike. Your request is so broad that I for one don't know where to start. Communication? Like what? There is so much going on. Trading, bartering, partner-seeking, gossip, wheres the nine?, sharing......... so much stuff that no one can give you a clearcut answer. Mis-understandings. Heck I'm not even at a powwow and I get mis-understood. Preaching, getting shot down.

My best advice still stands, talk to someone right where you are. Look around your classroom. See anybody native? Canadore College is a native hotspot.

[Kiwehnzii]

Sorry guy. I meant Matt, not Mike.

[Plenty Fox]

I have to admit..when I read the initial post I was unclear what the poster was really after. Communication. Like, how to publicize a pow-wow? Smoke signals and drum beats? j/k I mean, there is plenty of info on Paul's Home pages to get someone started and able to ask intelligent questions from there. If my reaction was 'over the top' I guess it came from a week's worth of new age or newcomer's posts that made me wonder 'why is this person here?' Patience has never been one of my virtues. I apologize if an apology is due, and support the other suggestions given here. I do have to wonder sometimes, why (other than points or seeing their 'handle/name' up there') does someone brand new with no background or tribal affiliations enter a discussion on something they know nothing about? That has been happening in spades all week long. As with any web board it behooves newcomers to sit back and learn for awhile just by reading the exchanges that are here, looking through the threads and forums. There are alot of answers already here; and as for being a 'student' , there ain't no 'Cliff Notes' fast track to NDNn culture or pow-wow. Get out there and observe the REAL thing, don't rely on hearsay. Thanks for listening. :36: :35: