Question on Northern/Southern protocol

[bzybzymom]

My children are enrolled Sioux and I'm Cherokee, and not yet enrolled although working on that and hopefully by next pow wow season I'll be enrolled too. My daughter and I are dancing jingle right now, but would like to change to traditional buckskin. (my knees cannot take jingle since I'm fatter now).

Here is my challenge: Traditionally, she is Sioux, Northern Style, and I'm Cherokee which would be Southern style... BUT we have always attended Northern style pow wows so .. I am willing to learn more about my ancestors and Southern style dancing, but right now I'm clueless. The only Southern style songs I've heard are the few that have come up north.

What is the appropriate protocol for us regalia wise?

My sons are Northern style tradish and so is her dad. I was wondering if it would be most appropriate for us to make our dresses and dance Northern style, but to incorporate some Cherokee beadwork designs into the beadwork, maybe with the hairties and accessories to reflect that part of our heritage?

I definately don't want to make us Southern style dresses knowing nothing about Southern style dancing right now, but then again, I am not Sioux, my daughter is, so I don't want to be too bold.

Would it be offensive to incorporate some Cherokee beadwork designs into our Northern style buckskin regalia? Or am I way out of line?

I want us to both dance the same style together, but I feel that is important to honor both tribes and I'm not sure what is appropriate.

I apologize if this was a goofy question but it is really bothering me how to be respectful of our heritages together, and dance together, and I don't want to have an Elder come up and slam us for being inappropriate, or get snickers for being out of line, since my daughter is a reigning Princess.

[littleredblanket]

My children are enrolled Sioux and I'm Cherokee, and not yet enrolled although working on that and hopefully by next pow wow season I'll be enrolled too. My daughter and I are dancing jingle right now, but would like to change to traditional buckskin. (my knees cannot take jingle since I'm fatter now).

Here is my challenge: Traditionally, she is Sioux, Northern Style, and I'm Cherokee which would be Southern style... BUT we have always attended Northern style pow wows so .. I am willing to learn more about my ancestors and Southern style dancing, but right now I'm clueless. The only Southern style songs I've heard are the few that have come up north.

What is the appropriate protocol for us regalia wise?

My sons are Northern style tradish and so is her dad. I was wondering if it would be most appropriate for us to make our dresses and dance Northern style, but to incorporate some Cherokee beadwork designs into the beadwork, maybe with the hairties and accessories to reflect that part of our heritage?

I definately don't want to make us Southern style dresses knowing nothing about Southern style dancing right now, but then again, I am not Sioux, my daughter is, so I don't want to be too bold.

Would it be offensive to incorporate some Cherokee beadwork designs into our Northern style buckskin regalia? Or am I way out of line?

I want us to both dance the same style together, but I feel that is important to honor both tribes and I'm not sure what is appropriate.

I apologize if this was a goofy question but it is really bothering me how to be respectful of our heritages together, and dance together, and I don't want to have an Elder come up and slam us for being inappropriate, or get snickers for being out of line, since my daughter is a reigning Princess.

I think that if you are as concerned about this as you seem then you should talk to the elders of your husbands tribe as well as to find elders of your tribe in order to get the correct information on how you should do things. They would be the most likely ones with the right knowledge to help you with your problem. That way you know that what they tell you will carry more weight should some persons decide they are offended by what you did or didn't do. I am sorry this isn't more specific but I believe that this is the best advice that anyone can give you at this point.

[WhoMe]

littlered,

Many old Cherokee beadwork patterns are floral designs. Many old Dakota (Sioux) patterns are also floral patterns.

Can you see a connection?

[littleredblanket]

I was aware of this however I was trying to do my best to help with out being offensive to either one tribal identity and unfortunately for me...trying to p.c. just doesnt' seem to work. So from now on I will keep my worthless two cents to myself.

BzyBzyMom: I am sorry if my words have offended you or confused you in anyway. That was never my intention and I apologize if my help was more of a hinderance. I take back my words and will leave this post to those who know more than me and are obviously wiser.

Again I apologize to anyone I may have offended.

[tribaltagz]

mixing

Personally, I would honor your Cherokee ancestry by learning more about Cherokee ceremonial ways and particpate in stomp dances. Pow wow was not traditional for Cherokee folks, although many have adopted it. In my opinion pow wow should be something to enjoy and fellowship with others, but not take the place of, your own rich tribal heritage.
Now, about the northern/southern thing. You might talk to your husband's family, but in most tribes, a wife is perfectly within her rights to be dressed by her in-laws and dance the style coming from her husband. An example I can think of is an Otoe girl down here in OKlahoma who married a Lakota. She used to dress in Lakota clothes.

[sltate]

Dress your own tribe and you will okay. Southern people get offended when you just decide to dress southern buckskin, especially since you can tell what tribe you are by how your buckskin is cut, the colors, the leggings, etc.etc. Don't just decide to dance it and then fix it and get out there, people will confront you and hurt your feelings. I have seen it happen, I have heard people gripe saying" Who does she think she is, dressing southern, she is not southern, look at her dress, what tribe is that," on and on. So, go and ask before you dress and you will do great.

[tribaltagz]

sltate is right

Some of those older ladies (my aunt being one of them) can get downright mean when they think you don't have the rights to do what you're doing. They will certainly question you, ask who dressed you or who gave you the rights to dress a certain way. When I was a kid, I once saw one of my aunts take a girl's dress because she didn't have the rights to wear them. Now, I think that's pretty hard core, but it just goes to show how deeply this issue is felt by a lot of people. To me your options would be to dress Cherokee or to talk to your husband's family.

[SuzzeQ4]

Well I'm kinda opposite of you. I'm Lakota married to a Mohawk. We let the kids chose which style for thier regalia. I was fortunate enough to have a Dakota teacher (out here in Mohawk country) to help with my dress. The bead work is entirely of my own imagination. He approved the design, but passed on before i made it.
My friends & i always take our designs to my Mom in law before & after we make them (for approval). One of our Elders (Mohawk) married a wounderful Woman from another Nation. She wears a Mohawk style dress but with incorporations from her Nation. So I'd think if she does this then it's Okay if you run it by someone first, an Elder, Grandmother etc. I bet you really want to be dancing with your daughter, which is probably a good reason to be in the same style
Best of luck, I'm sure you'll do wounderfully.
Suzze