Some of the most traditional of ceremonies, Native Powwows and dances are finding a new life online. Tribes are canceling events and gatherings to adhere to restrictions because of the coronavirus. But Indigenous people across the continent can share their talent and cultures online.
Social media has helped thousands of people see16 year old Wakiyan Cuny and his 14 year old sister Wicahpi Cook dance. The two are Oglala Lakota and live in Washington state. They compete at powwows across the country, and usually travel a lot in the summer.
But that won’t happen this year. So instead, they put on their regalia and danced in their front yard. Their mother recorded the performance and posted a video on social media. Wakiyan Cuny explains the roots of his Grass Dance.
“Back then the grass would be really tall. So they would have all the grass dancers go out and dance before everybody to lay down the grass so that it would be ready to dance on for everybody else.”
His sister Wicahpi Cook danced in her Jingle Dress. It has about 200 metal cones sewn onto it that make noise when she moves. She says it’s a healing dance that originates from the Ojibwe Tribe.
“Some dress, they kind of differ depending on your age because you don't want too many on a smaller child’s dress. But a normal dress should have 365 for the days of the year.”
The siblings usually compete in separate categories. So dancing in their yard, together, is a treat.
Cook: “It’s fun dancing with my brother and having him by my side.
Cuny: “Yeah, I think it's pretty fun and she’s just my first sibling and we’re pretty close.”
A Facebook group called Social Distance Powwow shares a variety of traditional performances. It’s the creation of Whitney Rencountre—he’s a member of the Crow Creek Tribe and based in Rapid City. So far, it has almost 90 thousand members.
"A platform has been created for them to share these songs and dances and so that’s why I think it’s just going viral for everybody. Because it’s the right time and it’s important to share the talents, and the songs, dances and artistry, languages and all these things that I think throughout the world we never really had a platform for to provide that.”
Rencountre says the pandemic has helped draw interest to traditional Indigenous practices.