Drum Etiquette

[RandyE]

I've always been taught that one of the most important things is to show respect. Respect for the drum, for the songs, for the circle, and for traditions.
If you show respect I don't think youy can go very wrong.

[DCP]

The basic "rule" that I go by is to act and dress as though I were around grandfolks. Clothes, behavior, and speech should be respectful.

The guys on my drum all dress differently. Nice shirt and jeans or "western" clothes or the traditional Fila/Fubu regalia (hee-hee).

[tigger]

we also wear around dance clothes when there are more then 2 drums at the pow wow.
also we were taught to act like we were around our elders when we are around the drum. ex.. no horseplaying, cursing, bad mouthing people or other drums, smoking.
the biggest no-no for our drum is no drinking 24hrs prior to sitting at the drum. basically we can not do anything that could bring bad medicine to the drum.
one of the young lady singers has donated a teddy bear to the drum as a mascot and we are slowly building an outfit for it (kinda like a mascot)

[raptor]

The point I wanted to make was that in those days that was what the traditional men out on the rez wore when they got dressed. Of course that has changed...more comfortable shoes,cooler shirts, all of which makes sense. It is distressing, however, to go to some 'eastern' dances and see supposedly traditional men (young men/teens?) sitting in cutoffs, sandals, athletic undershirts and a rag around their neck. The guys I learned from would be amazed. This kind of dress is common among both Hobs and NDNs in my parts. Where is the respect?

[tigger]

i wholy agree with raptor, what happened to respect. the more pow wow's i go to the less i see it.

[Beth]

Are you going to have a giveaway for your bear when he is finished? Mine have paid for their right and the boys were roached by veterans. One is a straight dancer, one is a southern ladies cloth(Ponca), one ins a fancy dancer and one is a shawl dancer.
Everybody brought their bears to dance with ours and a family gave permission to use their family song. They brought their bears and danced with us. We have a running joke with Millard Clark about singing for teddy bears. He was the head singer. Just to show you can do the respectful and correct things and still have some fun.

[tigger]

beth, i never thought about that. will have to start planning a give away for it i guess.


keith