Pow Wow – The Dance

• BillieJo Berens

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: August 29, 2014

  BillieJo has been Jingle Dress dancing since she was a young teenager and was taught about the healing nature and power of the Jingle Dress. BillieJo loves to dance, as you can hear it in her voice as she describes dancing to a good song as 'busting it out'.

• Donald Chosa 15

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: April 5, 2014

  Donald shares some of the responsibilities of the 'Head Dancers'. During ceremonies a Head Dancer might help an individual or sometimes dance in their place during a ceremony. Head Dancers are usually a respected dancer or role model in the dance community and are specifically asked to hold this title and fulfill the duties as Head Dancer throughout the pow wow.

• Donald Chosa 16

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: April 5, 2014

  Donald talks about the staff that help put on a pow wow. The MC or master of ceremonies is a big part of the pow wow. The Spiritual Adviser takes care of the spiritual aspects that need to be done before the pow wow and during the pow wow. The Arena Director is an important role as well, this person is a person that helps the pow wow activities proceed in a smooth manner. There are other staff members that help make the pow wow a successful event.

• PowWow the Dance Introduction

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: April 5, 2014

  George Strong introduces Donald Chosa and this series of interviews, Pow Wow the Dance. Donald shares his recollections of pow wows of his youth in Nett Lake and Tower as he grew up. Donald talks about how the pow wow in Tower spring pow wow, how the people would bring donations of fish for the feasts that would take place during the pow wow. Donald's relatives have long been participants of the local pow wows.

• Donald Chosa 6

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 29, 2014

  Donald talks about different dance styles. He mentions the Snake dance that was done during the fall pow wow but is not sure where this dance originated from. Donald talks about the people that lived here before us and how that tribe worshiped snakes.

• Donald Chosa 7

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 29, 2014

  Donald shares his perspective about the Round Dance and a variant of that dance called the Rabbit Dance and how the men will dance differently from how the women shall dance during this dance. Donald shares how the Two (2) Step style dance is usually a 'womens choice' dance and if asked by a woman, a man may sometimes pay a penalty if he refuses to dance with that woman.

• Donald Chosa 8

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 29, 2014

  Donald talks about the Round Dance and the Give away Dance. During the Give a way dance, a person who receives a gift will lift this gift into the air during the honor beats of the song as a way of honoring the gift that they have received. Donald also describes the 'break dance' that is a style of exhibition dance.

• Donald Chosa 10

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 29, 2014

  Donald shares some more about the Grass dance style of dancing. The fringe that is prominent on a contemporary Grass Dancers regalia is usually made out of yarn or cloth strips. Donald also shares some information about the Fancy Shawl style of dancing. Some people think that this style of dance is an emulation of a butterfly on the wind.

• Donald Chosa 12

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 29, 2014

  Donald shares his perspective about Dancers protocols and etiquette. Participants should not be dressed in shorts or in clothing that reveals their legs. During some dances or ceremonies, pictures are not allowed for the duration of that event. People should not carry their children while dancing or stand while carrying their child during a dance,in the dance arena, as this is a form of offering of a gift in the Ojibwe tradition.

• Donald Chosa 13

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 29, 2014

  Donald talks about certain songs that are gender specific. Donald shares that regalia should be respectful and not show too much skin, whether it be female or male dancers. If a dancers regalia shows too much skin or inappropriate then that dance will be asked to leave the dance arbor/arena. Donald shares a little about the Grand Entry line up order.

• Les Moriseau

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 29, 2014

  Les is a Mens Traditonal Dancer from the Koochiching Reserve located near Fort Frances, Canada. Les describes some parts of his regalia and how it took nearly four (4) years to compile the items that make up his regalia today. Les shares how he gathered some of this eagle feathers that are a part of his regalia.

• Linda Tibbits Barto

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 29, 2014

  Linda is a Jingle Dress style dancer and her regalia was given to her by her sister. Linda's sister was told how to put this dress together as a result of a healing vision that this dress should be made and worn to help

• Ben Spears

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Bean Spears is a dancer in the style of 'Men's Traditional'. He made his own outfit and was told that the outfits or regalia that dancers wear are where that person is at in life. Ben has spent 5 (five) years on his regalia so far and keeps adding to his outfit, piece by piece as they come to him.

• Bernice Ogema

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Bernice has different dresses in the style of 'Jingle Dress' and wears different dresses for different purposes. Dancing to her is a strong, healthy way of living. Dancing to her is a way to share with the youth and others about her strong Anishinabe heritage and promoting a strong Ojibwe Nation.

• Chaz Wagner

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Chaz is a Men's Traditional dancer and shares how he came to choose the colors of his regalia. He likes to make his own pieces of his regalia and most of his regalia has come from visions or some spiritual influence in his life. Chaz, at the time of this interview has been dancing for 5 years and loves the feeling of dancing.

• Curt Moon

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Curt is a member of the Onieda Nation and is a dancer of the 'Mens Traditional' style. Curt describes his regalia as contemporary and is made out of items that were 'gifted' to him and he did not make any of the items that he carries or wears.

• Donald Chosa 1

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Donald is a Mens Traditional dancer. Donald describes the differences in activities and similarities between a general and competition pow wow. One difference is that in a competition pow wow, there might be prizes of up to a thousand dollars in the various dance categories, whereas there is not a 'prize' offered to dancers in a general pow wow.

• Donald Chosa 2

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Donald shares some information about the floral designs you might find in a Ojibwe style of regalia. He mentions about the different styles and designs that a person might use in their beading and how specific designs can tell what family that beadwork came from by those floral designs.

• Donald Chosa 3

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Donald shares some more information about the differences between a competition and a general pow wow. In a general pow wow, you might see a dance called an 'Inter-tribal' style of dance. This is a dance where anyone can dance during this song. Whereas, in some competition pow wows, there might be a requirement of a form of tribal identification or verification in order to participate in that competition pow wow.

• Donald Chosa 4

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Donald provides some of the procedures required to obtain Eagle feathers through the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. Donald shares that some of the feathers that he has also come from finding them on the ground. He shares how a person that has an item that includes eagle feathers, usually has that item included in a ceremony before that item is worn for the first time in the dance arbor or area.

• Donald Chosa 5

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Donald talks about how feathers are sacred and considered animate beings. He describes a special ceremony that is used if an eagle feather, from a persons regalia, is dropped in the dance area or arbor. Donald shares further that if that person drops more feathers or the same feather more than twice, that person may be requested to put those feathers away for the remainder of the pow wow and have that situation addressed in a spiritual manner.

• Donald Chosa 9

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Donald describes the fringe on a Grass Dancers regalia and its origin. This style of dance comes from the Plains area and it is said that this style of dance came from the need of someone to 'dance' on the grass in order to flatten out an area of tall grass so that an area could be used for a specific purpose.

• Donald Chosa 11

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Donald talks about patterns that you might see on a persons regalia and how a person may find supplies for craftwork/beadwork to make regalia items. There are stores in Duluth and also online suppliers that can fill your craft needs.

• Donald Chosa 14

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 28, 2014

  Donald continues his description of how the dancers line up for the Grand Entry. Flag Bearers, Head Veteran, Head Dancers, Royalty, etc. Donald shares how a pow wow is a drug free event and promotes a healthy way of living. The Grand Entry begins in the east side of the dance arena or arbor.

• Ashley and Aki Goodsky Spears

  Pow Wow the Dance

  Production Date: March 27, 2014

  Aki is Ashley's son and his regalia came from a vision that Ashleys aunt had told her about. Ashley, after 3 sewing machines broke, ended up sewing her son's regalia by hand to complete it. Ashley's grandmother Arlene, who had passed away some time ago, came to Ashley in a dream and was smiling at Ashley's efforts and accomplishments with Aki's regalia.