Entering the Circle
This is general PowWow Etiquette.
Many of our citizens have asked why we don’t have historic or older Cherokee Pow-wow songs.
The following may explain this and answer other questions that I have been asked,
and it is important that our people know and understand.
New Dancers: This section is for our new dancers, who have not grown up around the pow-wow arena. The Cherokees are one of many nations living in the eastern and southeastern U.S. that did not originally take part in pow-wows, and did not do so as a group until around the 1950’s. We held dances called Stomps instead. However, today, many descendants of the Cherokees want to enter the dance arena and take part in the pow-wow tradition. It would be best to learn from another Cherokee dancer who has been around the pow-wow arena a long time. Be very wary of listening to anyone who simply dyes their hair black, and claims knowledge of several different tribes at the same time and tells you something one time and changes their story the next time you ask. Or in any other way seems evasive or tells you stories that do not seem legitimate. They probably aren't. For those of you who don't have anyone to learn from, here are a few tips to help you along.
Getting Ready: When new dancers are getting ready to enter the pow-wow arena, there are several things that they should be aware of, including the particular traditions that they should follow regarding their own Nation. It is of the utmost importance to be sure that you are dancing, dressing, and following traditions properly. ‘Real Indians’ don’t just "jump in" and start dancing.
Your Regalia: Any dancer who is new to the pow-wow circuit should always discuss their regalia ideas with experienced pow-wow dancers before starting on anything, to be sure that the regalia they are planning to put together will be correct. Be sure to use authentic beadwork, feathers, leather, etc. Your regalia is an investment in you own heritage and you want to honor your ancestors.
Because owl feathers are considered unlucky or mysterious by other tribes, we honor their beliefs and therefore owl feathers are forbidden in the ring.
You should make an honest attempt to use only those items that will reflect on your particular heritage. You do not want to be mocked or ridiculed by other natives or tribes. Fake items are just that and they do not belong on your regalia. Take the time to go to ‘Indian Country’ somewhere and attend real powwows and stomps.
Adornments: There are excellent (and legal) realistic imitation hawk and eagle feathers available from traders at pow-wows, or by mail-order, for those who don’t have access to the real feathers. Turkey or macaw feathers also make beautiful fans. Many Indigenous ladies carry turkey, guinea, macaw or fans of other birds. These alternatives are a safe bet for those who are not card-carrying members of a Federally Recognized tribe. Recently, the courts have struck down many laws forbidding the use of hawk and eagle feathers. However, you should investigate and learn the new laws regarding possession before going to the expense and/or effort to obtain “real” feathers. Also, each tribe has their own laws and regulations on how to obtain certain feathers. This also applies to turtle shells, skins, hides and fur. Know your people and your traditions first. Don’t get caught by surprise.
Entering the Circle for the First Time
Giveaway: After you are sure that your regalia is the best and most authentic that it can be, most Natives "pay their way into the arena" with a formal "special" or give-away. They will give items to those individuals or organizations that have helped them to learn their tradition or assisted them in obtaining or making their regalia. Not all tribes practice this, but most dancers entering the circle today do anyway. If you are not required to and choose not to have a formal giveaway, you will still want to honor the tradition of "paying your way into the arena" with sincere and generous gifts of cash, food, and/or shawls/blankets to the organization sponsoring the dance, and singers at the drum. It is a privilege to dance in the circle, and honoring traditions is the Native Thing, even if it isn’t your tradition. Remember that with Natives, it isn’t how wealthy you are, but how generous you are that makes the difference.
If you are going to have a giveaway, you need to plan for it well in advance and spread out the purchase or making of your gifts so you don’t get in a crunch. Bed blankets and Mexican serapes are common and appreciated gifts. Nice shawls are always an honor to receive. Pendleton blankets and star quilts (or any handmade quilt) are the modern equivalent of a buffalo robe as gifts, and are a great honor to the recipient. Cash is always a welcome gift and people often give $5 or $10 along with a blanket or shawl. A small item or gift usually accompanies a gift of cash in any amount. If you know the recipient well, a more personal gift chosen for that particular person is appropriate (a favorite color, an item of regalia, etc.)
Another popular item for giveaway or raffle at pow-wows is a new laundry basket piled high with groceries. When thinking of gifts, keep in mind that Natives are always cooking and feeding people, and those who are on the pow-wow circuit travel and camp often. The host drum will normally be given cash collected from your "special dance", along with a carton or two of cigarettes, sometimes a shawl or good blanket (which can be raffled to raise money) and sometimes small token gifts such as handkerchiefs, throat lozenges, guest towels, and the like. When planning your giveaway, remember that without the singers at the drum, there would be no pow-wow.
Normally, these gifts go to the Head Man and Head Lady Dancers, Head Gourd Dancer (if any), any Little Boy or Little Girl Head Dancers, Emcee, Arena Directors, Head Singer, Head Gourd Dance Singer (if any), the Host Drum (the singers themselves), the Princess (if any), and the Host Organization (who is holding the dance). You can usually find the positions and names on the pow-wow flyer. Other persons may also receive such gifts or tokens of your appreciation.
Now that you have an idea of how much time, money, and planning is invested in coming into the arena, you can appreciate what goes into making regalia and having a giveaway. This is by no means a quick, cheap, or casual undertaking. People often plan giveaways a year in advance, and entire families often help with gathering the gifts. Be sure to thank anyone who honors you by giving you something for you to use for your giveaway. Be sure to consult with an experienced pow-wow person before planning anything, because there are other things to consider once your time is near, such as who to choose to speak for you and your family during your special, it is not polite to ‘Toot your own horn’.
If you are going to have a giveaway, you need to plan for it well in advance and spread out the purchase or making of your gifts so you don’t get in a crunch. Bed blankets and Mexican serapes are common and appreciated gifts. Nice shawls are always an honor to receive. Pendleton blankets and star quilts (or any handmade quilt) are the modern equivalent of a buffalo robe as gifts, and are a great honor to the recipient. Cash is always a welcome gift and people often give $5 or $10 along with a blanket or shawl. A small item or gift usually accompanies a gift of cash in any amount. If you know the recipient well, a more personal gift chosen for that particular person is appropriate (a favorite color, an item of regalia, etc.)
Another popular item for giveaway or raffle at pow-wows is a new laundry basket piled high with groceries. When thinking of gifts, keep in mind that Natives are always cooking and feeding people, and those who are on the pow-wow circuit travel and camp often. The host drum will normally be given cash collected from your "special dance", along with a carton or two of cigarettes, sometimes a shawl or good blanket (which can be raffled to raise money) and sometimes small token gifts such as handkerchiefs, throat lozenges, guest towels, and the like. When planning your giveaway, remember that without the singers at the drum, there would be no pow-wow.
Normally, these gifts go to the Head Man and Head Lady Dancers, Head Gourd Dancer (if any), any Little Boy or Little Girl Head Dancers, Emcee, Arena Directors, Head Singer, Head Gourd Dance Singer (if any), the Host Drum (the singers themselves), the Princess (if any), and the Host Organization (who is holding the dance). You can usually find the positions and names on the pow-wow flyer. Other persons may also receive such gifts or tokens of your appreciation.
Now that you have an idea of how much time, money, and planning is invested in coming into the arena, you can appreciate what goes into making regalia and having a giveaway. This is by no means a quick, cheap, or casual undertaking. People often plan giveaways a year in advance, and entire families often help with gathering the gifts. Be sure to thank anyone who honors you by giving you something for you to use for your giveaway. Be sure to consult with an experienced pow-wow person before planning anything, because there are other things to consider once your time is near, such as who to choose to speak for you and your family during your special, it is not polite to ‘Toot your own horn’.
Entering the Circle, Part 3
Cherokees did not usually have dances in the sense of what we now call the powwow. Cherokees traditionally held dances called stomps. That is the reason that most Cherokees do not have traditional powwow songs going back to many years ago like the Kiowa, Cheyenne or Comanche.
Our next series will address the traditional Cherokee Stomp Dance, Shell Shakers and other parts and meanings of the Stomp.
Besides entering the arena for the first time, there are many other reasons to have a special/giveaway, such as returning to the arena after a period of mourning for a close relative (often 1 year), a marriage, graduation, birthday, anniversary, honor received, return from military duty, etc.
DANCING: Onlookers and other dancers may not pay any attention to you if you’re not dancing correctly while wearing street clothes. But you can be certain that once you put on regalia, people will be watching you.
You must be in full regalia to dance in the Grand Entry, also called Parade-In.
The only exception is for people who are members of a host organization or honored guests.
Gourd dancers will wear their velvet sashes and bandoliers, and blankets if they have them.
It is important to be IN STEP during Grand Entry so that all the traditional dancers in
the line are in unison. Watch the Head Man/Head Lady Dancers and the experienced dancers.
Match your left and right footsteps to their steps.
Be sure that your steps match the leader in a line of round-dancers.
Don’t start your own line.
Leave that to the Head Lady Dancer, or other experienced dancers.
Inexperienced dancers should fall in down the line.
After Grand Entry, men do not enter the arena until the Head Man Dancer has entered.
Women dancers do not enter the arena until the Head Lady Dancer has entered.
Stay in time with the drum. Your foot should touch the floor exactly on the hard
honor beats. Watch the experienced dancers. During a round-dance or two-step,
your left foot should hit the ground on the hard beat. Listen for a hard/long beat alternating
with a soft/short beat to identify a round-dance song.
SONGS & DRUMS SOUTHERN DRUMS VS NORTHERN DRUMS.
A host southern drum is normally set in the center of the arena in the Oklahoma area. They may or may not be in the center in other regions. Northern drums are always on the perimeter of the arena. Southern songs are sung in lower men’s voices, with the ladies joining in towards the last of a "verse". Northern songs are sung in a much higher voice range, and are often faster than southern songs. The ladies often join in with these songs also.
Most songs consist of a verse that is repeated 4 times.
A Grand Entry song may be sung many more times if there are a lot of dancers to enter the arena. A head singer starts the song, and he is "seconded" by another singer. The whole drum group finishes the verse, and then this sequence is repeated 3 more times. Listen for 4 "starts".
Southern songs usually have 3 HONOR BEATS in the middle of each verse. Northern songs lack the set of 3 honor beats, but will have "hard" honor beats within the song. Either way, your feet should hit the floor on the hard beats. Ladies dancing in northern buckskin and jingle dress styles may "bless the crowd" by waving their eagle feather fans on the honor beats during northern songs. Experience will tell you teach you how to tell when a song is ending, or listen for 4 "starts".
Ladies dancing in Southern Cloth exhibition, or contest dances to a southern drum should "bow" on the honor beats. This means to gracefully bend forward on the last of the three honor beats. Continue dancing with small steps and keep your shawl fringe swinging in time. Some ladies may go right, and then left. Stay down until the verse is about to end, and then slowly come up just before the next verse is started.
HAVE FUN!! While the pow-wow arena is a sacred circle, it is also a place of laughter, friends and family, and an excellent place to raise children. There are always a few sour-pusses around who may try to discourage a new dancer, but these people are best ignored. If you are dressed properly, dancing correctly, and following the traditional protocol, you can enter the arena with confidence and to honor your ancestors.
I hope this series of Entering the Circle has been able to answer most of your questions about the proper way to enter the circle as a dancer. Just remember to give your regalia serious thought and time so you may be proud to honor your ancestors and yourself when you dance. Next Month, we will learn about the traditional Stomp Dance of the Cherokee and other Southern and Southeastern Nations.
By Deputy Chief Starr Tawny Eagle
With many WaDo to the
Littlecrow Trading Post
Our next series will address the traditional Cherokee Stomp Dance, Shell Shakers and other parts and meanings of the Stomp.
Besides entering the arena for the first time, there are many other reasons to have a special/giveaway, such as returning to the arena after a period of mourning for a close relative (often 1 year), a marriage, graduation, birthday, anniversary, honor received, return from military duty, etc.
DANCING: Onlookers and other dancers may not pay any attention to you if you’re not dancing correctly while wearing street clothes. But you can be certain that once you put on regalia, people will be watching you.
You must be in full regalia to dance in the Grand Entry, also called Parade-In.
The only exception is for people who are members of a host organization or honored guests.
Gourd dancers will wear their velvet sashes and bandoliers, and blankets if they have them.
It is important to be IN STEP during Grand Entry so that all the traditional dancers in
the line are in unison. Watch the Head Man/Head Lady Dancers and the experienced dancers.
Match your left and right footsteps to their steps.
Be sure that your steps match the leader in a line of round-dancers.
Don’t start your own line.
Leave that to the Head Lady Dancer, or other experienced dancers.
Inexperienced dancers should fall in down the line.
After Grand Entry, men do not enter the arena until the Head Man Dancer has entered.
Women dancers do not enter the arena until the Head Lady Dancer has entered.
Stay in time with the drum. Your foot should touch the floor exactly on the hard
honor beats. Watch the experienced dancers. During a round-dance or two-step,
your left foot should hit the ground on the hard beat. Listen for a hard/long beat alternating
with a soft/short beat to identify a round-dance song.
SONGS & DRUMS SOUTHERN DRUMS VS NORTHERN DRUMS.
A host southern drum is normally set in the center of the arena in the Oklahoma area. They may or may not be in the center in other regions. Northern drums are always on the perimeter of the arena. Southern songs are sung in lower men’s voices, with the ladies joining in towards the last of a "verse". Northern songs are sung in a much higher voice range, and are often faster than southern songs. The ladies often join in with these songs also.
Most songs consist of a verse that is repeated 4 times.
A Grand Entry song may be sung many more times if there are a lot of dancers to enter the arena. A head singer starts the song, and he is "seconded" by another singer. The whole drum group finishes the verse, and then this sequence is repeated 3 more times. Listen for 4 "starts".
Southern songs usually have 3 HONOR BEATS in the middle of each verse. Northern songs lack the set of 3 honor beats, but will have "hard" honor beats within the song. Either way, your feet should hit the floor on the hard beats. Ladies dancing in northern buckskin and jingle dress styles may "bless the crowd" by waving their eagle feather fans on the honor beats during northern songs. Experience will tell you teach you how to tell when a song is ending, or listen for 4 "starts".
Ladies dancing in Southern Cloth exhibition, or contest dances to a southern drum should "bow" on the honor beats. This means to gracefully bend forward on the last of the three honor beats. Continue dancing with small steps and keep your shawl fringe swinging in time. Some ladies may go right, and then left. Stay down until the verse is about to end, and then slowly come up just before the next verse is started.
HAVE FUN!! While the pow-wow arena is a sacred circle, it is also a place of laughter, friends and family, and an excellent place to raise children. There are always a few sour-pusses around who may try to discourage a new dancer, but these people are best ignored. If you are dressed properly, dancing correctly, and following the traditional protocol, you can enter the arena with confidence and to honor your ancestors.
I hope this series of Entering the Circle has been able to answer most of your questions about the proper way to enter the circle as a dancer. Just remember to give your regalia serious thought and time so you may be proud to honor your ancestors and yourself when you dance. Next Month, we will learn about the traditional Stomp Dance of the Cherokee and other Southern and Southeastern Nations.
By Deputy Chief Starr Tawny Eagle
With many WaDo to the
Littlecrow Trading Post