Re: Powwow (native american) dances on dancilla.com (SuAnne Big Crow)

Date: Sun, 25 May 2003 14:46:28 -0700
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing,rec.music.folk,rec.arts.dance,uk.music.folk
Size: 2,168 bytes

Dominic Cronin wrote:
>
> On Thu, 22 May 2003 23:52:59 -0700, Rilla Heslin
> <email-address-deleted> wrote:
>
> >That is a fantastic story. I looked up her story on the web, and I
> >can't imagine what an honor it must have been to known such an
> >incredible Native Woman. I'm sure she would have gone on to become one
> >of the revered elders of her tribe. What a tragic loss.
> >
> >Thank you so much for sharing her story. I will honor her name at the
> >next PowWow I attend.
> >
> I Don't Understand Why This Is Cross-Shared To uK.mUSIC.fOLK. It Seems
> To Be A Story About An American Woman Doing Something Completely
> Unrelated To The Folk Music Traditions Of The uK. Can Anyone Explain?
> --
>
> Dominic Cronin
> Amsterdam
This story has "everything" thing to do with folk music, be it American
or U.K. It is a tell of peace through folk music, and I see no reason
why it shouldn't be shared with people who are into folk music any where
in the world. If you oppose peace through music, why are you on a folk
group at all?
There are some people who think that Celtic music is the only kind of
folk music that there is. But this is as bogus as saying that they are
the only "people" who's music should be recognized. By definition, Folk
Music is music of the common people. Native America music is as much
folk music as Celtic, Hawaiian, African, Russian, Israeli, or any other
"Peoples'" music.
In the story, the Native American girl came out on to the basket ball
court amidst terrible racial jeering from the audience. But through
this girls quick thinking and dignified actions she turned a very bad
situation into a good situation by singing a "Native American Folk Song"
and doing a traditional dance.
She used "her Folk Music" and dance to stop a "possible" riot and to
turn the people's attitude from racial ignorance to a peaceful
understanding. One young girl, alone, through her music and dance.
It has everything to do with rec.music.folk and I see nothing wrong with
the U.K. folk group recognizing this message anymore than I see a
problem with us recognizing the U.K. folk music group. But that of
course is my opinion.
Rilla