A fair contest for all??????

[Lil Stinker]

Many of you may have read this on a flyer or website promoting a rather large gathering put on by a family in New Mexico in April of each year. " A fair contest for all"

There may be a " do as I say, but not as I do " policy in this statement. The matriarch of this family was dancing in the 36-49 category at a Michigan powwow this past weekend. She placed. Last August in Connecticut, she danced in the golden age division. She placed there also. Both powwows had a rule stating that you MUST register in your proper age category.

I wonder if this means that a person can move up or down at their Albuquerque powwow and still be considered "FAIR"? I would imagine so, because she believes in moving up or down at other powwows.

Any comments?

[Mato Winyan]

I think it's messed up..... don't care who it is or what powwow. A person should dance their category. Maybe if they check proof of age that would stop some of this nonsense.

[whalawitsagirl]

some should read and calculate the dates

Shouldn't someone read and calculate the dates and put them in there proper catagory? Shouldn't someone at the registration table read it and calculate it? one would think wouldn't you?!

[between2worlds]

Whole bunch of questions come to mind here.

Is golden age the same age category in each place (some start at 50, some at 55)?

Did the person have a birthday between April and the last weekend in July?

Could it be there weren't enough golden agers at the second pw and someone said "would you mind switching categories?"

Also I see it says "register in your proper age category" doesn't say anything about dancing in it *grin*

Now if a person was 49 in April and 50 by the end of July.... well.

If the person has been doing this EVERY year for the past 5 years or if the golden age the person was in started at 55 then... thas sumpin different.

my .02

[Ol'Girl]

Whole bunch of questions come to mind here.

Is golden age the same age category in each place (some start at 50, some at 55)?

Did the person have a birthday between April and the last weekend in July?

Could it be there weren't enough golden agers at the second pw and someone said "would you mind switching categories?"

Also I see it says "register in your proper age category" doesn't say anything about dancing in it *grin*

Now if a person was 49 in April and 50 by the end of July.... well.

If the person has been doing this EVERY year for the past 5 years or if the golden age the person was in started at 55 then... thas sumpin different.

my .02

Obviously she was 50 in CT last August and found the "Fountain of Youth" 'cos she was 36-49 this August!

LilStinker: You are not the ONLY person who noticed this.

[hahtalekin]

man this happens alot,too much i think.proves how HONEST some people really are. are the ndn people adapting to the whitemans ways? by that i mean making money anyway you can=lie,cheat,steal.

mostly has to do with the amount of the prize money, used to be a time when the golden age were awarded less money than the adult catergories,which IMHO wasn't right. made where you'd see the golden age dancers were stepping down to the adult catergory because the money was bigger, and i think that they were really in denial of being a golden ager.


sad, real sad. i see people teaching their children that this is okay. they make their JR. catergory kids move up to the teens,cuz there is more money to take from a dancer who dances in their rightful age group. people need to teach their children to honest, modest and respectful!!!!!!


now what would people say if dancers started moving down an age group to better their chances at making or stealing money from people in their respectful age groups, maybe the pow wow committees need to make proof of age a requirement, just as the whiteman does for just about everything in todays world.

now go ahead and show whats really in your hearts and fire back!!!!!

[Dine_Gal]

I agree with hahtalekin said. I know so many dancers, mainly teens moving up in the adult category. People should talk to them and tell them, hey, your still a young buck, you have many more years to go to reach an adult. Don't rush to be an adult. Respect is all that needs to be taught!! I would love to see an adult or golden age move down to a teen category and see how they like it!

[chazziff]

well next time u notice someone who is in the "wrong" age catagory .. call em on it .. let the pow wow committee know .. and keep callin them on it