NORTHERN CHEROKEE NATION
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    • ORIGIN OF DISEASE AND MEDICINE
    • THE LEGEND OF THE FIRST WOMEN
    • How the Rabbit stole the Otter's coat
    • How the Honey Bee got their Stinger
    • BOY AND THE RATTLESNAKE STORY
    • LEGEND OF THE TLANUHWA AND THE UHKTENA
    • Yahula
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    • Why the Opossum’s Tail is Bare
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    • Straight Dancing
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Straight Dancing
​

The Straight Dance from Oklahoma Native American Tribes is a formal, tailored, prestigious form of southern dance clothes.   The overall effect is of reassuring solidity, with everything closely matched and coordinated.   It looks as if it is planned all at one time.


This is the first in a series of standard modern dance styles that you will see at any Powwow just about anywhere in NDN Country.  All are modern adaptations of older dances handed down over the centuries to us and should be viewed with deep respect for those who managed to save the culture long enough to pass it down to us. Please remember, you may not copy any of the designs in the photos that you find on the internet or see at a live powwow.  All of the regalia and patterns on such regalia belong to the person wearing it.   You, of course, may copy the items needed but not the patterns or artwork on such.  It is best to look at and study several styles of Straight Dance regalia and learn what each item signifies before gathering your items and arranging your own Straight Dance regalia.  Southern Straight does not have a bustle, (which is the style most Cherokee men wear). 

 This dance has evolved from the Hethuska Dances.   It is believed that the Ponca tribe of American Indians created this style.  The Hethuska are dances held by different societies.  There are several articles in the standard set.  The items that should match are arranged as sets, and everything should be closely coordinated.

The garters are finger woven.  The side tabs match, and hang from hip to mid-calf.  The better sets have beads woven into the fabric. Osage, Sac and Fox, or Ponca ribbonwork runs down each side of the aprons, the leggings, and three bars of it cross the dragger.  The aprons, leggings, trailer, and otter dragger or drops are all made of heavy wool, usually dark blue.  Red wool is usually reserved for the eldest son.  One, two, or three ribbons bind the raw edges not covered by the main ribbonwork, and the edges are ornamented with white edge beading.  Rainbow selvage edges mark the better sets made from trade cloth.  Ribbon work vests are becoming popular also.

Kiowa and Comanche usually wear tab leggings.  These are usually made of white or natural leather, but are also made of canvas.  At both knees, two tabs hang from the leggings.  These are usually backed with red or blue wool.  From the bottom of the tabs hang horsehair or twisted fringe.  The tabs are also decorated with lanes of lazy stitch beadwork and edge beading.  The Kiowa tabs are generally triangular, with the end coming to a point.  The Comanche tabs are generally squared off at the end.  Below the tabs going down the leggings are many strands of twisted leather fringe.

The belt is a strip of loom beadwork, 4 to 4 1/2 inches wide, and is mounted on heavy leather,
or is sometimes made of silver conchos.  Silver spots stud the edges of the leather.
The dancer’s otter strip, it has about 2 inches wide, and is attached with one or two beaded
rosettes or silver conchos and hangs down the back.  Some dancers also have all concho draggers.
The spreader, arm bands, and slide are made of German sliver, in stamped, overlay,
or cutout patterns.  One feather is usually put in the spreader.


The beadwork set is done in Peyote or Comanche beadwork.  The fan is usually a flat or loose fan.  The otter feathers are also attached with rosettes or conchos, and may be worn with or without an otter strip. The bandoliers match as to materials and colors, but may have from one to three strands or sometimes even four or more. They are worn crisscross on the body.

The ribbon shirt is made of satin, brocade, or floral print material, with contrasting ribbon.  The neckerchief, scarves, and arm band ribbons match the ribbon in the shirt.  Scarves are attached to the bandoliers at the shoulder blades.  The roach is made of porcupine hair, and either white or red deer hair. A more prized roach is made of turkey beard hair.  The headband is usually a white scarf. Dancers sometimes carry a pouch of white deerskin, with beaded decoration or other types of bags.

Bells may be either chrome or brass, and are mounted on a long leather strip.  The moccasins are usually Southern Cheyenne, and should be at least partially beaded.  A Straight Dancer will carry either a mirror board or a tail stick in their right hand.  The tail stick originated as the badge of office of a Tail Dancer in a Hethuska Society.  Today the tail stick is carried by many dancers in and out of the Hethuska Dance.  A tail stick is usually given to a Straight Dancer by another experienced dancer.  A mirror board is a substitute for the tail stick, and may be carried by any dancer.

There are a lot of clothes to wear in the outfit, and accordingly the dance is slow and proud.  The art of straight Dancing is in the little, sometimes unnoticed things, both in the movement and the outfit. Smoothness, precision with the song, knowledge of dance etiquette, and a powerful sense of pride mark the outstanding Straight Dancer.

There are more pictures available on Pow wows.com, see link below.

Read more: www.powwows.com

Also, it is a good idea to watch some of the Straight Dance videos that are online to get a better idea of the dance style.


Found on PowWows.com
Original Article by Paul G on July 21, 2011

edited by Starr Tawny Eagle Mayo


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  • Home
  • Contact
  • Events
  • PowWow
    • Vendor Information
    • Booklet Memorials & Ads
  • Photos
    • Warsaw Heritage Days
    • Old Glory Days Parade
    • Fourth of July Weekend
    • Tribal Headquarters Improvements
    • Council Meetings
    • Ceremonies
    • Darkening of the Sun
  • History
    • Children Massacre at Ywahoo Falls
    • Wampum Belt
    • Leaving our homeland
    • Spanish Treaty
    • Natural Disasters
    • Forced Removal
    • States against Indians
    • New Hope
    • Legal Genocide
    • Federal Recognition
    • Bringing the Children Home
    • Historical Cherokee marriage
    • In Ancient Times I
    • The Early Times II
    • The Colonial Period III
    • Sequoyah IV
    • The Cherokee Removal V
    • The Cherokee Today VI
  • Stories
    • How the Deer Got His Horns
    • WHY THE DEER’S TEETH ARE BLUNT
    • What Became Of The Rabbit
    • The Legend of the Cherokee Rose
    • Origin of the Bear
    • Why The Mink Smells
    • Life Lesson for All Cherokee
    • How the Partridge Got His Whistle
    • How The Redbird Got His Color
    • The First Fire
    • The Cherokee Legend of the First Strawberry
    • The Sixth Sun Has Risen
    • Young Harold Mayo and the Witch Woman
    • ORIGIN OF DISEASE AND MEDICINE
    • THE LEGEND OF THE FIRST WOMEN
    • How the Rabbit stole the Otter's coat
    • How the Honey Bee got their Stinger
    • BOY AND THE RATTLESNAKE STORY
    • LEGEND OF THE TLANUHWA AND THE UHKTENA
    • Yahula
    • Bears Race with Turtle
    • Why the Owl has a Spotted Coat
    • Why the Trees Lose Their Leaves
    • Why Rabbit Has A Short Tail
    • Why the Opossum’s Tail is Bare
  • Culture
    • Cherokee Adoption, past and present
    • Roles of extended family
    • Cherokee Clan System
    • Sacred Colors
    • Entering the Circle
    • Fall Cultivation
    • Dances
    • Straight Dancing
    • The Stomp Dance
  • Artist Showcase
  • Council Members
  • Council Minutes