November is National Native American Heritage Month and as part of our diversity awareness at work, we arranged for a mini-pow-wow during lunchtime. We had drummers and singers (a group of 4) and three dancers that each had their own style. It was a pleasure to see them engaged in keeping their heritage alive.It made me wonder what, if anything, do I do to keep my own heritage alive.
The woman in the blue dress is wearing a "Jingle Dress" and the purpose of the Jingle dance is for healing.
The woman in the buckskin dress said it took 5 years to put her regalia together. She carries a feather fan, porcupine quill designed beadwork in the front and on the back of her belt, which you cannot see, she carries 3 pouches - one pouch carries medicine, another carries tobacco, and she confessed that the third pouch carries a small sewing kit for emergencies. She also carried a knife whose blade was buffalo bone and painted red. It was gifted to her by a mentor and she considered it a treasured piece.
The man is carrying a healing stick in one hand and a tobacco pouch. He had alot of beadwork including a long piece that went down his back.
The drummers/singers were a powerful group. Their drumsticks were leather straps wrapped around the end of a stick and they each used 1 quadrant of the same drum. The singing was equally shared as was much of the drumming, however the leader handled the more powerful and stirring beats.
No comments:
Post a Comment