It bothered me even more when my young Native brothers and sisters who
were dancers and singers really did not understand the history behind
many dances. I have a great thirst for true Native history, so I began
pestering the elders, officials, and those who had traveled The Trail
for a long time for information. Of course, I had pencil and paper in
hand and I made notes so that I could answer questions, or at least send
people to sources to get their answers.
When we saw many pow wow begin to change with more and more allowing
alcohol, and country western bands and other commercial "stuff" that had
nothing to do with Native tradition, we stopped participating in the
circuit. It occurred to me that the need for information was still out
there, and that many young Natives had some really strange ideas about
various things in history. I know this has come about because of the
forced removal onto reservations where history and custom and tradition
have been thrown into this giant mixing bowl, and are coming out in some
hodge podge form that has parts of traditions, myths and customs from
many, many sources.
So -- I wrote a book called _The Pow Wow Trail_. It focuses on the
inter-tribal competition pow wow, and answers such insane questions as
no, there is no bloodletting; yes, women are allowed; yes, children are
allowed, etc. It goes into the officials and what they do; the order of
the Grand Entry; the competition dances, their origins and meanings and
what judges look for; some of the more popular exhibition dances. It
talks about The Potlatch because it is so unique, and gives a little
info on the American Indian Dance Theatre. It also talks very briefly
about what people won't see; proper behavior and respect; what to wear;
what to bring to be more comfortable, and many, many other things I have
never seen written down. No: I don't pretend to know it all, and I
certainly say this in the book. Yes: I know customs vary from location
to location, and I also say this. What I have done, however, is make a
beginning toward better understanding from the viewpoint of the visitor.
But it is that: a beginning, and I hope a good one. Hetch etu aloh.