"What are they doing?"
"Why do those dresses have shiny cones on them?"
"Can we go out and dance, too?"
These are some of the questions that Native American artist Cat Whipple hears when she goes to powwows – Native American social events where people come to dance, socialize and compete for dance prizes and money. Whipple, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, has been going to powwows her whole life. After years of hearing people ask these kinds of questions, she decided to create a paper doll book to help children (and their families) understand more about powwows.
Whipple's new creation, Indian Kitty Powwow Princess, is designed as an educational paper doll that teaches children about Native American powwows and lets people know that American Indians are still here. She says it's also an invitation to children and their families to attend a powwow to learn more about American Indian cultures.
But it's not just a paper doll; Indian Kitty Powwow Princess also comes with a mini-powwow guide to take to powwows. The mini-guide describes the different types of American Indian dance styles and includes photos of American Indian dancers in full regalia. The mini-guide gives a basic overview of what a powwow is, the two types of powwows, and proper powwow etiquette.
The paper doll comes with three American Indian dance outfits, contemporary clothes, and lot of accessories including a plate of fry bread (a favorite among American Indians and a must at powwows). Also included is one of Whipple's pieces of artwork called "On the Meow-wow Trail", a vibrant piece that shows cats sitting around a big drum, dressed in traditional Native attire, performing a Native song. Whipple said Indian Kitty Powwow Princess would not have been complete without a drum group to dance to.
Some people have asked her why she made the paper doll a cat instead of a little girl. Her response, "It's more magical when a cat dances at powwows, dresses up, and talks on a cell phone". And she says that's what Indian Kitty Powwow Princess is really about, the magic of childhood fantasy and playtime. She said mixing imaginative playtime and cultural tolerance makes Indian Kitty Powwow Princess a powerful learning tool.
Powwows take place year-around throughout the United States and Canada. And now, when non-Native people want to attend a powwow, they have an open invitation (not that one is needed) from Indian Kitty Powwow Princess, who will also act as their personal guide.
To learn more about "Indian Kitty Powwow Princess: a paper doll cat who dances at American Indian powwows" visit: www.paperdollcats.com
