Toronto Skydome Results

[Big Chocolate Thunder]

I think the skydome results were messed up. Politics or whatever I don't know. Just listening to the tapes on the ride home proved that. Listen to your tapes too and you will agree.
Brown Hornet hit the nail right on the head.

[ndn_blvd]

roundanceman99....good words....that's what im talk'in bout
people need to stop all tha hate'in
people need to just be glad that tha creator gave us powwow to enjoy....enjoy it,don't hate on it...peace:)

[took a look]

A special thank you!!!!.....to all of the Fifhteen (15) drums that shared their wonderful songs last weekend at the SkyDome in Toronto. I have seen and heard all of these drums at pow wows both in Canada, and the US and they have all placed in different rank and file, that is what makes this competion diferrent from other's. They are all champions in the minds and hearts of all that dance in the circle to Honor our Ansestors, that have left the beautiful gift of song and dance!.......let us carry it in the manner we received it.

I especially liked the song that RED DOG sang for the Mens Fancy Feather, those boys never knew what hit them WOW!!! that's what a contest song is all about!!

AH HOW!! Chii Mii Gwitch

[HighsNLows]

i would not be mad at anyone who sent me copies of what they managed to tape out at skydome. i was not there and did not get to hear any of these drum sing, so as i said i would not get mad at anyone who sent me copies of what i missed. i might even have tape of something they want to hear. :)

[Kiwehnzii]

Thankful

I am thanful for my achey muscles and bones in my legs after a powwow because...... the songs were all beautiful and they made me want to dance. Chi miigwetch.

I am thankful for that one guy who sings a bit off-key because......that means I can hear. Chi miigwetch.

I am thankful for that M.C. who says "hoka hey, it's grand entry time" because..... it means I am surrounded by friends getting ready to jam! Chi miigwetch.

I am thankful for the sweat on my brow because ...... it means I was dancing hard to some goooooood tunes. Chi miigwetch.

I am thankful for that one drumbeat that is just a little off that made me go offbeat because...... that means we are not all perfect. Chi migwetch.

Everyone - be thankful that these young men have heeded the call to be singers and are keeping our spirits up where it should be. Ahow!!!!

[took a look]

I have recently read all the responses regarding THE TORONTO SKYDOME POW WOW. It makes my heart sad to see that there is so much controversy regarding the drumming results. Over the many miles that our drum group have travelled providing our kind of music to people all over Turtle Island. has given us the opportunity to make lifelong friendships, not to mention numerous extended families. This to me has been far more important THAN how our drum group placed at any pow wow.

A message to all my fellow singers out there, if your life revolves around what other people write on a piece of paper, meaning drum judges, then your life is not your own. If my singing depended on how I placed, then I would have quit singing a long long time ago. Singing to me has provided me with the inspiration of being able to acquire a stronger touch with my spirituality. No one can put a price tag on being able to do this. If I had to depend on singing for my family's needs then they would have starved long ago.

In conclusion I would like to say that, the cut that I recieved for placing second is long gone. The memory of renewing old friendships, and being able to say I went and sang at Skydome pow wow is something that will be with me for a long time.

I borrrowed a friend's login name to write this response. Thanking you for taking the time to read what my thoughts are.

Sincerely,

Vern Chocan,
Pipestone Creek

[Two-cents1]

Thank-you for the good words Vern......just shows me again why you guys are one of my favorite drum groups.

Two-cents

[The Rock]

Thanks Vern....

You know that if during those danceoffs if the dancers were allowed to pick their drums you and your boys would've been in there...picked by dancers to sing for them....that's the ultimate first prize.........when the pow-wow committee wanted round dances....they went to Pipestone Creek...that's respect....

I haven't seen you guys set up in a long time so I was happy as hell to see you out there....

good words....

Rock

[Whateverz]

:Mad
First goot words to:ndn blvd, rounddanceman99, singerdad, and who ever else wrote goot words in on this post.

like what has been said powwowz are for having fun, enjoyment, seeing old friends, what is all this on hatin' on other groups or results. Thank your lucky stars your NDN and have these to enjoy and share.

Anyone can sing, anyone can drum, but it takes talent to do both.

If you are a “true” singer or dancer you would know that it is not all about who wins, or who didn’t win
BUT about if you did either (of these) to the best FOR you, these two things are very spiritual and should remain that way. Winning is just a nice little feature that can sometimes make it all worth the while.

IF YOU DEPEND ON POWWOW WINNINGS TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND CLOTHES ON YOUR BACK THEN YOU NEED TO STOP WRITING ON HERE AND STARTING LOOKING FOR A JOB!!

I was raised on powwows, have loved powwows through and through, have a job and still try to make all the top ones, JUST TO HEAR, SING, and DANCE because this is who I am.

IF you ask me (and even if you don’t) they just have these HEAD JUDGES as an escape from the PW Committee getting all the shaft.
The drum judge if you watched only got to pick the judges he did not tabulate, nor did he enter the ballots into the system, just handed over. Which is how it usually has been done at most powwowz.
The committee has there own people taking the ballots and entering them on the tabulation system.
So like I read in one post if YOUR not happy then just don’t go back next year.

Whitefish Jrs. Yes they have Harvey, but like I also read he was not singing by himself, he had 6 others singing their asses off with him. 6 (six) and they sounded strong and alive, just “givin’ her”, and again with just 6 singers.

For those of you who wrote in thinking Bear Creek should’ve took it or placed higher, just a little FYI they need to work on there pickup beat, it is toooooo loooonnng and throws the beat and tone off. (JUST some CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, NOT trying to say anything more or less.)

[Big Chocolate Thunder]

C'mon!! What's with all the philosophy?? Sing for singing?? Shut up! All the singers you see love to sing and they all learned the teachings and practiced hard over the years to get where they are today. When people get mad over the results, they aren't getting mad over money they made or lost, they are getting mad over not getting recognized. That's right, not getting recognized!! When you work your a$$ off learning songs and practicing and you tear it up at the pow-wow, that group should be recognized for their efforts. If a boxer dosen't train- his a$$ gets knocked out. Whos fault is that?? Should they fight just to fight or should the better trained guy win??? That would be like getting a fat outta shape off of the street and sticking him in the ring with Lennox Lewis. Lennox knocks him out and then loses!!??!! That's what its about. So why doesn't everyone quit crying and acknowledge those that deserve it. Those who sing about "sing for singing, and don't be greedy" can check that stuff at the door. The guys I know practice their butts off before they go to any contest powwow and they know how they will place. And what they receive SHOULD be what they deserve. That way if they keep losing they know they gotta fix sumthin' and if they keep winnin' they gotta stay on top of their game and i'm out.

[NATIVE_DIVA]

I WAS AT TORONTO AND I PERSONALLY THOUGHT THAT THE JUDGING WAS GOOD. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A SINGER BUT AM RELATED TO ONE OF THE DRUM GROUPS THAT PLACED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY "HATERZ" ON THIS BOARD, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE PEOPLE THAT "ARE" HATING ARE EITHER THE GROUPIES OR SINGERS THEMSELVES. THERE ARE PRO'S AND CON'S TO EVERYTHING, AND THERE ARE ALOT OF IGNORANT PEOPLE ON HEAR THROWIN THEMSELVES ON THE FLOOR AND THROWIN A FIT CAUSE THEY OR THERE GROUP DID NOT MAKE TOP 5 . "DON'T HATE .......CONGRADULATE"

NATIVE PEOPLE WERE NOT HEAR TO ACT LIKE WHITE PEOPLE OR BE POISINED WITH HIS (WHITE PEEPS) BAD MEDICINE........LIKE FOR INSTANCE MONEY AND GREED, AND JEALOUSY. HAVE FUN AND DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL **** !!!!!!!! I AGREE WITH 'WHATEVERZ'.
IF YOU HAD A REAL JOB YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO USE POWWOWS AS A BATTLEFIELD, BUT AS A VACATION TO GET OUTTA THE MADNESS @ WORK, TO SEE OLD FREINDS-MEET NEW ONES, AND JUST HAVE FUN. WHO CARES IF YOU PRACTICED YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND DON'T PLACE THE WAY YOU FEEL YOU SHOULD. JUST BE HAPPY THAT YOU CAN DO IT !!!!!!! BESIDES WITH AN ATTITUDE THAT MAKES YOU PISSED OFF AFTER EVERY POWWOW CAUSE YOU DIDN'T WIN.......GUESS WHAT YOU PROLLY NEVER WILL. BE POSITIVE, BE HAPPY,HAVE FUN, AND QUIT TRIPPIN' !!!!!:p :p

[Big Chocolate Thunder]

..........................whatever................ ...........hippies...............

[NATIVE_DIVA]

:p I DON'T SEE NO HIPPIES HERE..........MUST BE FROM THE BUSH !!!!!:p

[Big Chocolate Thunder]

Good comeback.


Relax y'all.
We're all just talking here.

Stay Chocolatey!!!!!!!!!

B.C.T.

[Whateverz]

:Mad Ok so you want recognition for singing good, or for practicing your azz off, well have you heard of show some respect and it will return to you.

See all these new groups expect that if: they made some good songs, pratice they're azz off,got in (placed) at some good powwows,have been traveling all summer long, have a full crew (12 or so singers) that they deserve to be recognized, your right
BUT having and showing respect is the winner.
YOU see all the top groups have this they don't bad mouth, they have respect for the drum, they take everything seriously (making drum recall), not thinking just because we have a full crew and blast out some songs we have it hands down, having and showing respect is what gets you to that point. This is why those top groups are still legends.
These groups (the Top ones) have been singing since they were just young boys (3-5 yrs. old) going to powwows with their dads, learning to lead at a young age, knowing their language and not just to make a song, taking that drum out in the bush and sweating with it, fasting with it, praying with it before it is even brought out to a powwow. IT's not just making a bad azz song and saying we have 12 singers just givin' her and saying ok I want a piece of the pie now.

YOU MUST EARN THAT!!!

If you ask me (and if you don't) whether you come full or half crewed and you sing with respect, power, and strength your on the right path to getting that recognition some day.

AND YES POWWOW PEOPLE WILL SEE THIS!!

:) :)