By Dan White – Special to the Sydenham Current
This week’s column will be focused on two words, stereotype and prejudice.
We talk about these terms often and we proudly trumpet our ability to shrug off the yoke of these oppressive terms and move to a more enlightened society.
After all, the etymology of stereotype as described on online etymology dictionary is, “assign preconceived and oversimplified notion of characteristics typical of a person or group.”
We, as a society are way beyond such tunnel vision. We know that looking at a group and throwing a blanket over them to describe them is at best, childish.
And prejudice?
The same site defines the word as, “preconceived opinion” (especially but not necessarily unfavorable) is from late 14c. in English; now usually “decision formed without due examination of the facts or arguments necessary to a just and impartial decision.”
The word literally means pre-judge.
To make assumptions (usually based on cultural or personal bias) prior to gathering any actual facts.
I get it, life is simpler when you can pigeon hole entire portions of society and neatly claim that “they” are A, B or C.
But wait… is it really simpler?
By this point, you may be thinking, “Dan! This is an arts column, not a political column; Shouldn’t you just write fluff and feel-good stories?”
The best art has historically held a mirror up to society and challenged people to take a closer look at civilization.
I am not so bold as to suggest that that is what I am doing here, but art does far more than simply entertain.
Joni and I attended the Powwow on Walpole Island Bkejwanong Territory and had a wonderful time.
As I noted previously in this column, for me, in the past there was a hesitation that lingered about attending a Powwow.
I felt as a descendant of Europeans I was at best an unwelcome guest, at worst and intrusion into a sacred event.
I knew that these where my prejudices and biases and I was led by former student Rachael Simon to discard these long-held beliefs and attend a Powwow several years ago at the Sarnia Aamjiwnaang Powwow.
Rachael was dancing and she was very proud of her heritage and wanted me to attend… I was honoured and overwhelmed.
The beauty and pride of the culture of the caretakers of this land for millennia was overwhelming.
I loved the experience and felt I knew Rachael, and her culture, just a little bit better.
Still, I worried about offending and felt very out of place.
Since moving to Wallaceburg five years ago I have become friends with Philip Moses.
I love Phil; he is honest, open and genuine and we can talk about anything.
If Phil read this column, he would be embarrassed that I mentioned him.
(He never does… but Karen does)
He is First Nations from Six Nations of the Grand River and we are close enough friends that I have had the courage to ask him about anything, and he has had the gentle spirit that allows him to respond, knowing that I mean no disrespect.
These conversations lead to a better understanding of indigenous culture.
You may be wondering what all of this has to do with a column about… what was it?
Right, stereotype and prejudice.
Bear with me a tad longer.
Like most compassionate people, I was heartbroken to hear about the 215 graves found last May.
Our brass quintet reached out to our friend Tina Aquash and created a video to honour the tragedy.
Last fall, Gretchen Sands Gamble joined the Wallaceburg and District Council for the Arts.
In speaking to Gretchen and preparing for this column, I was led back to an old friend and former colleague, Dallas Sinopole.
Dallas and I worked together at Scits and we developed a mutual (I hope) respect and I learned a great deal from him.
Before I go on, I apologize to our friends and neighbours who are First Nations if I am not entirely correct here… don’t blame Dallas, I am the messenger, and I am wading through my ignorance.
In speaking with Dallas, I gathered as much information as my brain could absorb.
The purpose of this column was initially to promote the Aamjiwnaang Powwow as it truly is a rich artistic and cultural event.
But I have heard friends and those who would like to be considered leaders speaking with prejudice and long-standing bias and I felt compelled to endeavor to begin a journey to illumination and information.
Dallas is a proud member of the Anishnaabeg Nation has a wealth of knowledge from his years as a dancer and now drummer and singer at powwows.
The first revelation for me was that a powwow is not a ceremony, it is a social gathering and a celebration of the culture.
This fact alone makes attending much more comfortable for me.
This column does not allow the space to delve into the oppression of the culture that led to cultural celebrations going underground until the 1950’s when the current form began to evolve and regalia became flashier, songs evolved, dances evolved and several (now traditional) styles of dance and drumming developed from ancestral roots.
I hesitate to put things into a nutshell here because as professor of mine was fond of saying, “anything that can be put in a nutshell, usually should be left there”.
However, this is a column, not a doctoral thesis or a novel.
Things you should know if you go to a powwow: Powwow is not an indigenous word. You can find the definition in detail online, but it is an English misuse of an indigenous term that has stuck.
There are several styles of dancing, singing and drumming, Dallas spoke in detail about six styles (three male and three female) but I may have missed some.
Every song has a purpose and the singing may include words; some songs are completely created from sounds from nature that inspire singers to create the song.
The songs, dances and drumming are associated with pride, culture and heritage.
Songs are not written down, rather they are passed from one generation to the next.
Take time to look at the bead work, leather work, sewing, bells, feathers of the regalia – the person wearing it likely invested a great deal of time creating that exquisite attire.
A competitive participant at a pow wow has trained for thousands of hours, an investment similar to the preparation of an Olympic athlete.
Ask questions if you want to break down your stereotypes and prejudices.
Most of the artists are happy to explain what they do, how they created the performance and what it means to them.
The 59th Annual Aamjiwnaang Powwow is June 18 and 19 along the St Clair River, just south of Sarnia.
