While
going through my teaching blogs and websites please keep in mind that I am now
retired, I have never, and will never, look for a profit from any of my work,
Creator is watching me also!
My
teaching websites and blogs are just that, teaching.
My work
comes from the many years of teaching by my elders now ancestor while growing
up at their gatherings.
If for
any reason, someone is in need of a personal appearance it is true that because
I am retired and need help getting around, I hope that you understand that the
cost of expenses is necessary and can be worked out with my webmaster.
Please
keep in mind that there are still well over a thousand tribes in Indian country
and this is only by my list.
Eastern
Woodland American Native Dance. We in the east have lost our dance culture and
this is a shame!
For
years starting around the early to middle 80's we have allowed the occult, the
plains and northern western tribes into our circles and change so many of our
customs and ceremonial dance that many now would not even recognized them when
danced, this is also a shame!
Traditional
Eastern Native American dance?
This
blog is only about an Eastern Woodland Native Traditional Matriarch Tribal
Gathering, (powwow).
The
Eastern Woodland American Native powwow came from the ancient Traditional
Paw-paus as explained in some of my earlier blogs.
This
gathering started at sun up and ender at sun down, dancing could however go on
for the week of this gathering.
The
first dance that should be discussed is one that has gotten out of hand in many
gathering, The Feather dance.
The
Traditional Eastern Woodland American Natives Ancestors around the New England
area believed that ALL bird of Prey are our spiritual messengers and send from
Creator for our protection.
They
(we) have included each into our culture and ceremonies.
What
happened ?
Today
we worship the plains Indian Eagle?
Even
that ceremony has been abused beyond recognition.
When a
feather from any bird of prey drops to Mother Earth, that feather now belongs
to our Mother!
If this
feather drops at a gathering, we would have done the following.
Every
warrior at this gathering must go to this feather, the head veteran and four of
his/her warriors then do Creators bidding with this sacred ceremony while the
rest direct all dancers including themselves around and away from the ceremony!
If it
drops where there is no dancing every warrior at the gathering circles with
their backs to the feather, except for the person guarding the feather, the
person that lost the feather and the five veterans obeying Creator.
The
first person protecting the feather and if possible the person that lost the
feather dance in one spot at the head veterans discretion unless called to the
feather.
If this
ceremony becomes a show, the gathering is polluted and must be canceled!
No one
except people involved with the ceremony is allowed to see the very sacred
ceremony.
The
Drum dance.
At
first light anyone wishing to, needs to be at the flag pole with the head
veteran for the flag ceremony.
As soon
as this is completed the drum needs to go to the east.
The
drum ceremony (if there is a sacred fire someplace at the gathering, everyone
wishing to be in this ceremony needs to at the east as soon as possible. The
drum walks or dances around within the circle four times with their choice of
song using any drum they chose, the gathering drum would not be warm this
early, then if they wish dance around within the gathering to remove evil
spirits, smudging is optional.
The
Fire dance.
As soon
as the gathering opens to the people in the morning, anyone wishing to goes to
the fire for the morning fire ceremony, a dance to thank Creator for blessings,
health, friendship, gifts and for being at the gathering with the people.
This
was also a friendship gathering with coffee and desert served by the host of
the gathering.
Grand
entry.
Much
has changed from the original grand entry also however, the main thing is to
have a grand entry with as little bickering as possible.
Veterans
dance.
After
Grand entry and before any prayer or other songs, everyone except veterans form
a single line around the inside and hopefully outside of the circle, warriors
bring a seat for older veterans that need them, older veterans please allow
young warriors permission the show you their respect, then we have the flag
song, veterans song and prayer.
After
the prayer and song's, veterans dance once around and out of the circle.
Everyone
around the circle except the veterans dance in place with respect to your
veterans until every veterans is outside the circle, then those wishing to do
so, dance behind your veterans.
Round
dance.
A
Friendship (round) dance can and should be on the drums list of songs as often
as possible, this helps keep everyone involved in the dance.
A call
from the M. C. for an intertribal friendship dance and anyone wishing should go
to the east and then when the head veteran opens the east go into the circle
(there should be no such thing as a arena director) we are only writing about
Native Americans not a circus or carnival.
At
Native American gathering, powwow paw-paus or meeting, the circle is always
controlled by at least one veteran, put in place by a Head veteran.
Listen
to your M C for fun and instructions while holding hands because a good M C is
going to try to trick you into having even more fun at your expense.
Men's
and Women's Eastern Woodland Traditional.
The
Head Tribal (clad) Grandmother has the Head Tribal (clan) Grandfather start a
Traditional Eastern Woodland dance first so as to better him with the Eastern
Woodland Women's dance ( this is all in fun).
The
elder men start with a dance, women have formed a circle like with the veterans
around within the circle ready to dance in place.
Each
male dancer shows off his best dance, deer skin regalia only, knife, bow with
arrows never placed together while in a circle, only if it was danced just
outside of the circle (village )during any war protecting the women and
children from an enemy, at some of the gatherings elder men would dance this
dance just outside the circle in the east.
2nd
dance, then any warrior wishing to danced a traditional dance, usually the
sneak up.
As soon
as this dance is completed the men would form their circle around the outside
and inside the circle with respect, while the women dressed in deer skin
regalia only, danced a dance of their choice.
No male
should ever leave the circle area until the last women exits the east.
Remember
Matriarch society
Adoption.
New
Birth.
Evil.
Funeral.
Military
ceremony.
Naming
protocol.
Pipe.
Prayer
ceremony.
Sacred
Burial.
Sacred
corners.
Smudging.
Wedding.