Powwows / native american Crafts........ - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Powwows / native american Crafts........

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'd be careful, the Natives may (will) be offended by a White man selling at their event, and they probably won't let you in the first place. I grew up in Arizona, and, at the risk of offending anyone here, and apologies ahead of time, you don't want to piss off any Natives who have been drinking. The few times I've had to make a run for it, has been from drunken Indians when I lived in Arizona, and it does not take much at all to get them going. furious

Better idea, set up shop at a flea market or event in an area that attracts tourists looking for the "Western experience", such as Santa Fe or Sedona.

Jane

aww

pheasantplucker · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've been doing the Denver Indian Market (January) for the past 5 or 6 years, and us "white folks" are there by invitation, and treated very well I might add. I can't speak to pow wows, etc, although I have been invited to a few.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

A friend of my wife is native american, she sells handmade bead jewelry at PowWows in California and Arizona. She makes good money.

I never asked her the process to sell at them. She's out of town for several months so I can't check with her.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

It took me a little while but I wanted to get a comment from a relative who teaches science on a reservation:

Without exception, every powwow in my personal experience and knowledge from being in the Indian community for over 20 years, is planned and coordinated by a committee of elders and tribal leaders, is well-organized and policed by law enforcement and volunteer security patrols. I have been on four different powwow committees, both large and small, have been in drum groups, and have danced at powwows in California, Texas, New Mexico Oklahoma, ND and SD,

Vendors must possess valid business licenses, be invited to come or apply for a space on generally a first come - first served basis (although some preference is given to Native American vendors and those who have been there in previous years). Powwow committees try to get a good mix of vendor participation to appeal to all attendees - Native and non-native.

Alcohol consumption is prohibited and anyone found to be intoxicated is removed. The experiences expressed by that one individual probably did not occur at a powwow.

Hope this helps,

Above from a Jesse relative

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry and Jesse,

Just out of curiosity, when you've attended the Pow-Wows in Oklahoma, do you ever remember running across a native American artist by the name of Harvey Pratt?

If you have, he is an employee at the law enforcement agency where I work. He retired from the "law enforcement" side of the agency and has come back to work there as a forensic artist. He is one that can take a skull and construct a facial reconstruction, or take an image and do the same.

I ask because even though he is a native American, I don't recall him ever saying that he has "performed" at any of the Pow-Wows.

Terry

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Terry,

The pow wow information was written by a relative, not one of us. I asked for his comments because Mike asked about them so we can't help you there. I would guess that lots of Native Americans participate in their heritage and lots don't. One of Jesses's cool sisters has a tee pee and attends Sundances and she's not Native American, she just loves the culture. Hope we get to attend one someday but we'll stay in our RV. 😃

Sherry

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I attended my first Pow-Wow as a vendor over the weekend.....this particular one requested that only Native American products or crafts in the spirit of ,be sold.

It was a very enjoyable weekend , I carved several Ceremonial & personal pipes and sold alot of product!!!

Will definitely add this to my selling practices as my scheduling starts to develops.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yeah Mike!

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good to see you are moving out and about!!! Successes are great!