Beyond the Classroom: Music of the Indigenous Americans

 

Recently we have been learning about the Indigenous Americans, even more specifically, Native Americans. Native Americans have such a powerful history between their music, dance, and way of life! In learning about the Natives, I found three things interesting that I would like to know more about and would also like to educate my viewers at the same time! 

    1. The Fancy Dance 

The Fancy Dance is also known as the Oklahoma Feather Dance. This dance is the most popular style of dance at modern powwows. The Fancy Dance originated as a Fancy War Dance by a society in Oklahoma. It is interesting that the individual who invented the dance, Gus McDonald (Ponca Tribe), also invented the "feather pull". This is another contest of the fancy dancer's agility and ability to be able to keep time with the drum. The style of dance consists of two different types: a basic simple step while dancing around the drum, and a "contest" step with fast and difficult footwork which is combined with spinning. Not only with the dance being so interesting to watch, but I also really enjoy the regalia as well as the music. 

Enjoy this short videos of the TOP 3 Fancy Dance Videos 

        2. The Regalia

So, by now you have read about the Fancy Dance, and you have seen the video. So here is my question. Why the feathers? Why the regalia? Make that a few questions... After doing some research I found that regalia in general tends to tell a story or transmit heritage or serve as badges of honor. The regalia can reflect the individual's connection to their ancestors, family members and clan. The dancers make their outfits as colorful as possible for entertainment. The regalia mainly includes loom beaded sets of suspenders, belt cuffs, headbands and armbands. Occasionally a breastplate will be used in place of the beaded suspenders. The main attraction to the regalia is the feathers which are dyed to match the beadwork. The shoes that are worn are moccasins with a rawhide sole, it may be partially or fully beaded. Also! These dancers have bells mounted on them, so it adds more excitement and sound to the experience! 

Here you will see each aspect of the regalia! 

        3. The Music 

The songs that are sang for the Fancy Dance are collectively called "The Trick Song". The Trick Song is actually a contest between the dancers and the singers. It is interesting because the drummers, who are also apart of the musical experience are actually playing more for the dancers than the singers. The drummers use their beats to try to fool the dancers into missing their beats! The music for the fancy dances is upbeat and they use a lot of tradition sounds of other native music. Because the style of this dance is to dance in cut time, the music must be upbeat! If you listen to the music, you can hear that the singing is actually LIVE as well as the drumming, it is not recorded! In this recording that I am providing below, you can not only hear the steady drumbeat, but you can hear the shakers on the ankles of the dancers! Whenever the drum drops out, you can still hear the bells on the dancers' ankles keep the steady beat! 

Listen to the drum as well as the shakers! 

Sources: 

G, A. P. (2020, February 1). Native american fancy dance: What is fancy feather dancing? 

            PowWows.com Retrieved January 9, 2022, from https://www.powwows.com/fancy-feather-                         dancing/

Indigenous Regalia in Canada. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2022, from 

            https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/indigenous-regalia-in-canada

McCluskey, M. (2009). Your guide to understanding and enjoying Pow Wows. Office of Public Instruction.

Powwow dance styles for men. St. Joseph's Indian School. (2021, March 10). Retrieved January 9, 2022,                 from https://www.stjo.org/native-american-culture/powwow/powwow-dance-styles-men/