Powwow etiquette in question

I don’t look like her. I’m not peach skinned with narrow smiling eyes and round cheeks. I don’t have long, straight, black hair that I can tie in a neat bun at the back of my head. I always wished I did because I associate that hair with beauty – not because it makes her or anyone else who wears it more Native than me. There have been times in my life when I have gotten stares, even glares from people like her attending Native events like powwows, socials and meetings and conferences.

That, “who the hell are you?” look that is assumed by those who come from tribes that guard their heritage with the kind of blood quantum standard that is certain to some day wipe them out. They are those who question the validity of tribes where lineage descent, along with actual engagement in tribal political, social and cultural activities drive enrollment. Things that assure that our history and traditions do not die with the next generation. No, we don’t look the same, but we are every bit as Native as they are and have just as much right to our heritage.

I suppose it is possible this woman is just intrinsically rude and treats everyone like she treated me, but I felt the distinct bite of inter-tribal racism in our brief encounter at the Dartmouth College powwow last weekend.

I promised Niyo, who I have been watching develop as a dancer since he learned to walk, that I would take some video of him performing his grass dance competition. I sat on the grass in the circle just behind one of the judges where I knew I would not be in the dancer’s way.

There was commotion behind me that I ignored until I got a tap on the shoulder from the girl sitting on a bench directly behind me calling my attention to this woman who was demanding I move. At first I though, “how could I possibly be in her way I’m sitting on the ground and she is in a chair?”

But that wasn’t her problem. She insisted I move because I would impede the dancers despite the fact they would need to mow over a judge with a clipboard to get to me.

I explained I was getting video and wasn’t in the way. I let it roll.

After the dance was over I sat on the bench next to the girls from our Native Tribal Scholars program who witnessed this whole ordeal.

I turned to the woman and politely told her, “I honestly meant no disrespect, but I knew I was in a safe spot. I have been attending powwows my whole life.”

The woman held her feather fan in front of her eyes and refused to look at me or respond. A few moments later she got up and curtly said, “skuze me,” as she yanked a blanket that had been laid on the bench where the girls and I sat right from underneath of us. She returned to her seat and shielded her eyes again, not from the sun, but as a blatant snub that was instantly felt as well by the NTS girls.

I don’t know where she is from, but have a strong suspicion this might be the first time this woman has ever traveled to a Northeast powwow and perhaps like other Native people who openly practice inter-tribal racism, she thought she was better than me because she fit the stereotype and I don’t. Perhaps she thought I didn’t deserve the respect that any other human, let alone any other Native woman is entitled to.
I honestly feel sorry for her. That is a lot of baggage to carry around Indian Country.

Not letting her attitude spoil my day, I collected some great video including Niyo’s grass dance that nearly got foiled by a change in the program. Click the link below and enjoy the video!

Dartmouth College Powwow 2014