The Native Women's Collective (with the help of various community members) recently lead two Flower Dance Demonstrations to help showcase the revitalization of this women's coming of age ceremony. The demonstrations continue to be a testament to the resurgence of this important community building ceremonial activity. For a number of years this ceremony was not commonly performed but because of the hard work of people throughout the region the dance is now regularly given to celebrate as a girl becomes a woman. One participant was Vanessa Esquivido who said "I am honored to stand and sing next to such strong, beautiful and intelligent women! The continuing revitalization of our culture is important to our communities and our spirituality."
A group of women performed at the Big Time Gathering at Humboldt State University on April 7, 2012. (Where the collective also had a table featuring artist pieces!) The group included Novie Osborne-McCovey, Rachel Sundberg, Brie Fraley, Mary Risling, Emmilee Risling, Liz Lara-O'rourke, Robbie Lara, Stephanie Lumsden, Vanessa Esquivido, Nina Surbaugh, Hannah Surbaugh, Valerie Reed, Lori Biondini, and Cutcha Risling Baldy. This group performed 45 minutes of songs for the large crowd. Some of the songs had been passed down through generations, while others were new, showcasing the continuance of this important tradition. NWC Director Cutcha Risling Baldy shared the story of how her song came to her while she was "making mashed potatoes."
"I call it my mashed potato song. You know how when you're pushing those mashed potatoes down to smash them up and you do the repetitive motion, up and down, up and down. While I was doing that this song just popped into my head to help me along. They really can be given to you just about anywhere."
Risling Baldy co -coordinated the group that performed at DQ University on April 14, 2012. This group included Viola Brooks, Vanessa Esquivido, Natasha Shaw, Kayla Carpenter, Arya Mettier and Stephanie Lumsden. Singer and Co-Coordinator Viola Brooks believes that "Participating in the Flower Dance [demonstration] is an opportunity to be part of something that is greater than yourself. It is a chance to sing and hear women sing which is rare these days. It is important to participate so we can continue our traditions and keep them alive."
Stephanie Lumsden echoes this sentiment. "Participating in the Flower Dance demonstrations at Big Time and the Powwow at DQU was a way for me to sing old and new songs with a group of Native women and share those songs with those who are familiar with our traditions in the Hoopa Valley and those who are not. I think that the sharing of these songs was a way to celebrate the survival of our traditions and the revival of the Flower Dance. I was proud to be a part of these demonstrations and so happy to learn about this important ceremony."
the Collective hopes to continue these educational demonstrations. Donations made to the collective are used to help put on programs like these. Money or donations made to the Collective at these events will also be used to help send Collective artists and members to the National Congress of American Indians in October 2012. Donations can be made online here!
A group of women performed at the Big Time Gathering at Humboldt State University on April 7, 2012. (Where the collective also had a table featuring artist pieces!) The group included Novie Osborne-McCovey, Rachel Sundberg, Brie Fraley, Mary Risling, Emmilee Risling, Liz Lara-O'rourke, Robbie Lara, Stephanie Lumsden, Vanessa Esquivido, Nina Surbaugh, Hannah Surbaugh, Valerie Reed, Lori Biondini, and Cutcha Risling Baldy. This group performed 45 minutes of songs for the large crowd. Some of the songs had been passed down through generations, while others were new, showcasing the continuance of this important tradition. NWC Director Cutcha Risling Baldy shared the story of how her song came to her while she was "making mashed potatoes."
"I call it my mashed potato song. You know how when you're pushing those mashed potatoes down to smash them up and you do the repetitive motion, up and down, up and down. While I was doing that this song just popped into my head to help me along. They really can be given to you just about anywhere."
Risling Baldy co -coordinated the group that performed at DQ University on April 14, 2012. This group included Viola Brooks, Vanessa Esquivido, Natasha Shaw, Kayla Carpenter, Arya Mettier and Stephanie Lumsden. Singer and Co-Coordinator Viola Brooks believes that "Participating in the Flower Dance [demonstration] is an opportunity to be part of something that is greater than yourself. It is a chance to sing and hear women sing which is rare these days. It is important to participate so we can continue our traditions and keep them alive."
Stephanie Lumsden echoes this sentiment. "Participating in the Flower Dance demonstrations at Big Time and the Powwow at DQU was a way for me to sing old and new songs with a group of Native women and share those songs with those who are familiar with our traditions in the Hoopa Valley and those who are not. I think that the sharing of these songs was a way to celebrate the survival of our traditions and the revival of the Flower Dance. I was proud to be a part of these demonstrations and so happy to learn about this important ceremony."
the Collective hopes to continue these educational demonstrations. Donations made to the collective are used to help put on programs like these. Money or donations made to the Collective at these events will also be used to help send Collective artists and members to the National Congress of American Indians in October 2012. Donations can be made online here!
