This is a dance most commonly associated with Plains nations. Traditionally in these nations, women’s dances tended to focus on dignity, restraint, and elegance. This kind of dancing is represented in what we now refer as “Women’s Traditional”. Here’s an example:
You’ll notice that in both videos, women dance on the balls of their feet to the beat of the drums and wear shawls. Shawls are VERY significant in most Plains cultures including my own (Osage), and like in mine, you’re damn near considered naked without one lol.
So fast forward from the olden days to the days of modern native Americans living in colonized North America.
Heavy restrictions were put on how/when/if we could practice our cultures and religions and religious dances were outlawed, straight up Footloose style. So native Americans began to make new dances to get around the ban. One of the double-edged advantages of these dances was that they could be performed for the public. The men’s fancy dance was created in 1928 by two men in the Ponca tribe (who share close relation with the Osage!), and this fast paced dance was partially geared towards drawing an audience. Back then one way Native Americans could make money was by performing in “Wild West” tourist traps and side shows.
So men’s dancing went from something like this:
To this:
Note the more exaggerated regalia.
Well it worked wonderfully to bring in money and soon women were like, “Hey, I want in on this, too! And women began fancy dancing not in the regalia of the women in the pictures, but dressed in regalia identical to men.
As the allure of viewing native Americans in side shows and in tourist traps declined, so too did fancy dance, particularly women’s fancy dance. That is, until the 1950s when women began to feminize the dance using their all-important shawls and exaggerating their own traditional regalia. Thus “Graceful Shawl Dance” was born, later to be called the fancy shawl dance.
The fancy shawl dance is still evolving. Note how different the old and new styles of women’s dancing are! How much movement should be permissible in fancy shawl is often debated. Still, the fancy shawl dance has become a modern staple of Plains native cultures.
Also, if anyone tells you the fancy shawl dance is a traditional Native American dance to “symbolize a girl transitioning to woman like a butterfly from a cocoon” they are full of shit.
On a side note, this is the style of dancing I used to do when I was younger! Need to get back into it -.-
Andrew Myrick, a storekeeper on a Minnesota Native American reservation, told starving natives to eat grass if they were hungry. He was found dead on the first day of the Dakota War of 1862, with grass stuffed in his mouth.
Andrew Myrick, a storekeeper on a Minnesota Native American reservation, told starving natives to eat grass if they were hungry. He was found dead on the first day of the Dakota War of 1862, with grass stuffed in his mouth.
name one native american intellectual off the top of your head, name one native american actor or actress off the top of your head, name one native american senator, one native american news anchor, or an author or a tv personality or a singer or a poet or a comedian, name a single native american teacher you’ve had, can you? probably not
ok so now think of one native american cartoon character you know of or a sports team relating to native americans whether it’s their actual name or their team logo, or a town you live in or near with a “native” name bet a lot of these things came to you right away i bet you didn’t even have to think
needing native representation in media, education and government are not decoy issues, the commercialization and appropriation of native cultures are not decoy issues, the lack of native representation is institutional oppression at work
White people specifically need to reblog this, I don’t CARE if it makes you uncomfortable–that’s the point. Listen to Native voices about Native issues PLEASE
name one native american intellectual off the top of your head, name one native american actor or actress off the top of your head, name one native american senator, one native american news anchor, or an author or a tv personality or a singer or a poet or a comedian, name a single native american teacher you’ve had, can you? probably not
ok so now think of one native american cartoon character you know of or a sports team relating to native americans whether it’s their actual name or their team logo, or a town you live in or near with a “native” name bet a lot of these things came to you right away i bet you didn’t even have to think
needing native representation in media, education and government are not decoy issues, the commercialization and appropriation of native cultures are not decoy issues, the lack of native representation is institutional oppression at work
White people specifically need to reblog this, I don’t CARE if it makes you uncomfortable–that’s the point. Listen to Native voices about Native issues PLEASE
“I never learned my Navajo language and I was never inspired to learn it. As I got older, I realized how valuable our language is to the livelihood of our Navajo Nation. ” -Dr. Shawna L. Begay
Our Navajo or Diné language is in danger of becoming extinct. Help us create and develop the first Navajo-English educational media TV puppet show, “Diné Bí Ná’álkid Time” which means ‘The Navajo Movie Time.’ It will inspire and teach our youth basic language skills using media as a technology tool. Parents, grandparents, children and grandkids can learn to speak Navajo fluently together within their own homes.
Long-time friends and educators, Dr. Shawna L. Begay and Charmaine Jackson have teamed up to create this new TV pilot for an all-ages audience or for anyone who wants to learn the Navajo language.
With your support, it’ll be the first educational Navajo and English puppet show that will teach and preserve the Navajo language and culture through digital media.
After several years of extensive research on the Navajo Nation, Dr. Begay recently completed her PhD from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with her doctorate thesis, ‘Developing A Navajo Media Guide: A Community Perspective.’ As project director, she quickly realized she was a pioneer on the topic.
“When I decided what topic to study I realized there existed very little research in Indigenous educational media, especially with our Navajo people,” stated Dr. Begay. “As Navajo people, we have our own learning objectives and Navajo way of knowing is completely different for Euro-Western schooling. I decided that I had to research and develop our own curriculum guide that is meant to teach Navajo through media.”
Dr. Begay and Jackson, co-writers of the show, developed the first 3-puppet characters and plan for many more. The pilot features Nanabah-a young Navajo girl, Gáh (Rabbit) and Dlǫ̀ǫ̀ (Prairie Dog) who will go on endless adventures learning about language, gardening, the environment and the importance of family values. Nanabah is fluent in Navajo and likes to teach children about life on the reservation with her animal friends and special guests. Children who want to learn Navajo will also be an important part of the show by interacting with Nanabah, her friends and storyline.
Dr. Begay’s research concluded there exists very little research in the area of Indigenous educational media. Currently media is a very powerful tool that can be used to teach. She is cognizant of the digital age we live in and the opportunities to utilize media to revitalize the Navajo language.
“Star Wars and Finding Nemo,” dubbed in Navajo, was a great place to start and it has garnered national exposure of our language. However, we need a show based on our own Navajo learning principals our ancestors set out for us to learn and live by. I don’t think a non-Navajo, non-Native or non-Indigenous person can do that for us, nor should they. We, as Navajo, need to produce this show ourselves, if we are to be truly sovereign,” added Dr. Begay.
Both educators, Dr. Begay and Jackson, of Naalkid Productions have been talking about this educational language project for about the past four years and still have a long way to go to finance their dream.
“With the support of Navajo TV Anchor Colton Shone, our team of Navajo artists, filmmakers, family and friends, this video pilot is a huge step forward,” said Jackson. “Our journey has just begun and the big next step is finding financial support to create a whole new puppet TV series.”
We aim to raise $50,000 with this project which will allow us to continue with pre-production and production aspects of making this digital media project become a reality. We need your help to save our language by teaching Navajo to our future generations.
Pre-Production: -Script writing for the pilot show -Puppet Development/Creation -Casting for puppeteers and other talent that will be on screen -Hiring of all key cast and crew
Production: -Locations and permits -Rental of Studio space -Equipment: cameras, sound, lights, etc. -Cast and Crew budget
Despite all the notes on this post, they’re still at $13,155 of their $50,000 goal.
“I never learned my Navajo language and I was never inspired to learn it. As I got older, I realized how valuable our language is to the livelihood of our Navajo Nation. ” -Dr. Shawna L. Begay
Our Navajo or Diné language is in danger of becoming extinct. Help us create and develop the first Navajo-English educational media TV puppet show, “Diné Bí Ná’álkid Time” which means ‘The Navajo Movie Time.’ It will inspire and teach our youth basic language skills using media as a technology tool. Parents, grandparents, children and grandkids can learn to speak Navajo fluently together within their own homes.
Long-time friends and educators, Dr. Shawna L. Begay and Charmaine Jackson have teamed up to create this new TV pilot for an all-ages audience or for anyone who wants to learn the Navajo language.
With your support, it’ll be the first educational Navajo and English puppet show that will teach and preserve the Navajo language and culture through digital media.
After several years of extensive research on the Navajo Nation, Dr. Begay recently completed her PhD from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with her doctorate thesis, ‘Developing A Navajo Media Guide: A Community Perspective.’ As project director, she quickly realized she was a pioneer on the topic.
“When I decided what topic to study I realized there existed very little research in Indigenous educational media, especially with our Navajo people,” stated Dr. Begay. “As Navajo people, we have our own learning objectives and Navajo way of knowing is completely different for Euro-Western schooling. I decided that I had to research and develop our own curriculum guide that is meant to teach Navajo through media.”
Dr. Begay and Jackson, co-writers of the show, developed the first 3-puppet characters and plan for many more. The pilot features Nanabah-a young Navajo girl, Gáh (Rabbit) and Dlǫ̀ǫ̀ (Prairie Dog) who will go on endless adventures learning about language, gardening, the environment and the importance of family values. Nanabah is fluent in Navajo and likes to teach children about life on the reservation with her animal friends and special guests. Children who want to learn Navajo will also be an important part of the show by interacting with Nanabah, her friends and storyline.
Dr. Begay’s research concluded there exists very little research in the area of Indigenous educational media. Currently media is a very powerful tool that can be used to teach. She is cognizant of the digital age we live in and the opportunities to utilize media to revitalize the Navajo language.
“Star Wars and Finding Nemo,” dubbed in Navajo, was a great place to start and it has garnered national exposure of our language. However, we need a show based on our own Navajo learning principals our ancestors set out for us to learn and live by. I don’t think a non-Navajo, non-Native or non-Indigenous person can do that for us, nor should they. We, as Navajo, need to produce this show ourselves, if we are to be truly sovereign,” added Dr. Begay.
Both educators, Dr. Begay and Jackson, of Naalkid Productions have been talking about this educational language project for about the past four years and still have a long way to go to finance their dream.
“With the support of Navajo TV Anchor Colton Shone, our team of Navajo artists, filmmakers, family and friends, this video pilot is a huge step forward,” said Jackson. “Our journey has just begun and the big next step is finding financial support to create a whole new puppet TV series.”
We aim to raise $50,000 with this project which will allow us to continue with pre-production and production aspects of making this digital media project become a reality. We need your help to save our language by teaching Navajo to our future generations.
Pre-Production: -Script writing for the pilot show -Puppet Development/Creation -Casting for puppeteers and other talent that will be on screen -Hiring of all key cast and crew
Production: -Locations and permits -Rental of Studio space -Equipment: cameras, sound, lights, etc. -Cast and Crew budget
Despite all the notes on this post, they’re still at $13,155 of their $50,000 goal.
Because for hundreds of years, native people were prosecuted and killed for practicing and celebrating our culture. We endured mass genocide and rape, our scalps were held up for bounty by the US government. Children were taken from their homes and placed with abusive white parents.
Indian boarding schools that my grandparents had to endure, having their culture beaten out of them, their mouths washed with soap for speaking their “savage” language. Who had their traditional native clothing burned before them and forced to wear the white man’s clothes, their long braids cut, a sacred sign of beauty and spirituality.
The slogan “Kill the Indian, Save the Man”.
The war bonnet isn’t just “something”, it’s a great symbol of honor and dignity, you work hard for it. Each feather has been blessed by our elders and every bead and tassel MEANS something. You earn each and every feather for bravery, for surviving and protecting.
It was not even 50 years ago that it became legal to practice our own religions. Even now, we’re discriminated against for our beliefs and our practices are made a mockery of. But, some white guy wears a cheap replica and people see him as “Edgy” and “fashion forward”? When our culture was ripped from us, some of us not even knowing the old ways?
Is it so much to ask for respect for our cultures? Respect for our murdered ancestors? Respect for our elders who have survived the assimilation? For young native children who have to grow up with our entire way of life as a joke?
Is it so hard to respect that we’re still a living breathing community and not a costume?
Celtyradfem 