How many members are in a Native American tribe?

How many is in a tribe?

Or

How many members are in a Native American tribe?

One answer could be from one to one hundred thousand plus one, just guessing.

While growing up with my people back in the 40' through the 70's there was thirteen families in our tribe so around twenty six members.

Once the government Indians came to the area and traded  our land for a casino their numbers grew into the thousands over night?

The traditional tribes in New England that did not sell their souls to the government are still averaging around the 20 to 50 members per tribe.

Do you offer tobacco at a native American wedding?

Do you offer tobacco at a native American wedding ?
Yes!

A good Traditional Spiritual leader uses a lot of tobacco (Kinnick, Kinnick) and charges you nothing for the service, so yes a good traditional spiritual leader is always in need of the herbs (Kinnick~ Kinnick).

One should also remember that a tobacco gift given the correct way is a prayer for a blessing to the person receiving your gift, so you can gift this herb anytime that you feel the need to.

Because a traditional native American is always giving out this herb, receiving this herb is a blessing to the pocket book.

Our gift given tobacco is Kinnick~ Kinnick!

My ancestors were simple common sense people.

Their tobacco was grown without chemicals, the ancestors did not need them!

Today our elders know that cigarettes cause cancer, even if they smoke, someone that they know and love has died a horrible death from this cancer.

Please do not insult them by an offering of a cancer causing cigarette.

Will you please use Kinnick~ Kinnick (herbs)?

Why do all cultures have naming ceremonies?

One should not answer this question for all cultures however, it is a very good question that should be answered.

My people had only two names before first contact, we now have three and maybe more depending the culture around us.

First we were names early in life to make it easy for mother, father, relations and the tribe to get our attention, as soon as the elders were convinced that we wanted a quiet time to speak with Creator, an elder, the spiritual leader and the person to be named would go to Creator in prayer.

The only reason for this was to make it that much easier for that person to block out the world and just communicate with Creator.

Creator used this name as the full tribal name for open talk!

Native American Traditional Feather dance.

Again thank-you for this question, I thought that I posted this before however, I guess not?

Traditional Eastern Native American dance?

This blog is only about an Eastern Woodland Native Traditional Matriarch tribal gathering, taught to me by elders now ancestors.

The Eastern Woodland American Native powwow (gathering) came from the ancient Traditional Paw-paus as explained in earlier blogs.

This gathering started at sun up and ended at sun down, dancing could however go on for the week, sometimes longer.

The first dance that should be discussed is one that has gotten out of hand in many gathering, The Feather dance.

When a feather from any bird of prey drops to Mother Earth, that feather now belongs to our Mother!

Also if this feather drops at a gathering, from a dancers Regalia or any other reason, we must do the following.

Every warrior at this gathering must go to this feather, the head veteran and four of his/her warriors control this sacred ceremony while the rest direct all dancers including themselves around and away from the ceremony!

The traditional MC and drum, keep things moving as if nothing happened, this is very important to remember!

If it drops where there is no dancing every warrior at the gathering circles with their backs to the feather.

The first person protecting the feather and if possible the person that lost the feather dance in one spot at the head veterans discretion or until a veteran shows up, unless or until 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 are allowed to see this very sacred ceremony, NO RECORDING, EVER.

The reason for the above is simple, the bird of prey is our brother/sister and a helper/protector, hence we protect their covering (feather).

If one of your veterans falls do you make this into a spectacle?

One would hope not.

A two-day Native Producers Workshop.

Panel considers future of Native American film.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Panel-considers-future--of-Native-American-film

A two-day Native Producers Workshop held in Santa Fe, with 30 participants — mostly Native producers, directors, writers and actors.

We are in need of many Native American movies, T V shows and books by real Native Americans telling some real story's about the past, present and future, some comedy, some science fiction, some drama and many that help native and non native remember, not only the bad in our past but the traditional good in our past.

Thank-you to Robert Redford the Sundance Institute Native American and Indigenous Program co founder and President.

http://www.sundance.org/programs/native-film/