Placing money at dancers feet

[Smokin' Ace]

It's not just the plains people that like a good joke. I laugh more at pow-wow's than I am serious. Without humor, I truly believe that our people would not have survived.

I like you, get angry when I see a Native person's beliefs slammed. The one thing to understand is that every tribe and nation has their own customs, which you can identify with in 90 percent of these forums. Different ways for different customs. But some non-Native people do float in and, because what someone taught them was different, may think the original way was wrong. I guess maybe all of us are creatures of habit. And, tradition translates sometimes to habit.

One of the main things that many people, especially in the East have faced is attempting to maintain tradition, but adapting to the ever changing world. i.e. Our women just can not go topless any longer, and I know that's a crime to alot of people, but it's just the way it is!!

See, there goes that humor again!! Somebody stop me........

Take care.

[Smokin' Ace]

Geez, I re-read my post and realized that I made a generalization about all women in the East. OMG!!!!!!!

Pleeeeeezzzzzz forgive me!!!! Okay, okay, the women in Virginia wore no tops, okay????
And that's all I'm gonna say about this top..ic!! hahaha

[kills-two-crows]

i like to dance... and when someone honours me, it makes me dance harder... travelling is not cheap and every little bit helps... i don't who the cultural expert is...

[kimimila]

This is an interesting question... I do not know why that man did what he did at NOAC... I personally feel it was rude. As for why people put money at a dancers' feet; I was taught that it is to honor that dancer. The dancer should dance at the money until the song is over. There are several things that can happen with the money from there. The person who dropped the first dollar has the right to pick up the money and do what they want with it. They might even have someone else pick up the money and keep it... This honors both the dancer and the person that picks up the money. The point is that the person who had the money dropped at their feet has been honored. If the person who picks up the money gives it to the dancer, I was taught that the dancer should always pass it on... to continue the honoring process. They could give it to an elder, the drum that sang the song, the singer that led the song, use it to honor another dancer, etc... It is up to the way that each individual was taught... As for honoring jingle dancers... I was a jingle dancer for quite some time. I was taught that it is okay to honor a jingle dancer, but if you do it during an exibition dance, the dancer probably will not dance at the money because they are supposed to continue dancing around the arena... that is simply their style of dancing. I was also taught that it is rude to honor any dancer during the compitition because many dancers feel that they have to stop and dance at the money and that keeps some of the judges from seeing them.

[mymistyeyes]

I have been to only a few pow wows and did not know you could give money to a dancer unless the blanket or shawl was laid out to do so! Thank you for this topic. Now I know how to thank each person that is pushing their drive harder and harder!

[ipowwow]

This is an interesting post with some good replies. A few years ago in Nashville, TN I experienced this. Nashville is a contest powwow. I am glad to learn more about it. A female traditional dancer dropped the money at our feet after a fancy dance exhibition, the AD picked it up and divided it among about 5 of us. I dance for fun, not money, but was very honored by the lady's gesture and generosity. Since the money was produced after the dance there was no question about being "spiked" etc. I would like to do this myself to show my appreciation for the dancing of others so this is welcome information.

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