By Tami Watt, Editor
Hodinöhsöni’ or Ogwe’öweh have had traditions with song and dance since our beginnings. Rooted in ceremony, traditional music is often used to give thanks to the Creator for the renewal of the cycle of nature and the continuous gifts from Mother Earth. Most ceremonies take place behind closed doors in the Longhouse for participants.
Social Dances aka “Socials” are fun gatherings for the entire family and community, not limited to Longhouse, and can be their own event with a purpose, i,e; to hold raffles, benefits, and raise funds for groups and organizations. Socials consist of a group of singers that use drums and rattles to get the crowd dancing; with a partner, or a rotation between male and female, some dances are just for women, some are just for men. Dancers join up in a counter clock wise circle, in a shape, or spread around the floor- it depends on the song. Some songs are Hodinöhsöni’ songs, some are borrowed from other Nations. Socials can be held by Indigenous peoples or organizations and as scheduled often as the host prefers. Social songs can also be used for educational purposes exhibited by Hodinöhsöni’ singers and dancers at schools, museums, and organizations. Smoke Dance has become a popular social dance with contests at many community events across our Territories, not just limited to powwows and socials.
The Covid-19 pandemic has struck Hodinöhsöni’ country as hard as the rest of world. Many ceremonies, socials, Smoke Dance contests, and powwows have ceased or only allow required attendance to renew the cycle, however, this has not stopped the Indigenous communities around Turtle Island from sharing and spreading our culture through song and dance.
Indigenous communities have found virtual mediums to stay in touch and promote Hodinöhsöni’ music. The Quarantine Social Dance Page on Facebook run by Samatha and Solon Spruce gives a weekly dose of the socials the our communities have been missing since social distance policies and travel restrictions have kept families from gathering. The page has grown to over 4K members since it started in January with Sunday, April 4th marking the 13th week of the popular socials.
Based from the Onondaga Territory, the Spruces are educators of Hodinöhsöni’ culture and have a group called “Indigenous Peoples Dancers.” The pair both sing and dance as part of the group and have performed at schools and various facilities. They are members of their respected Longhouses with Solon deriving from the Ga’dägësgëö’ Territory and having various roles with the Seneca-Iroquois Veterans Powwow. The page was started after Solon was requested to sing on a Round Dance page, Samatha and family listened, joined, and danced along and the thought to initiate the page was born.
The pair both put in equal efforts to make the page a success and are constantly reaching out to singers, taking requests, and scheduling singers every week. The Spruce’s have been providing virtual socials for their 4k+ followers for the past 13 weeks with some singing from as far as Oklahoma and Oneida, WI. Our local favorites such as Alan Dowdy, Justin Cook, Jake George, Jessie George, Alan George, Kelvin George, Josh Johnny-John, Kerwin Dowdy, Sheldon Sundown, Frank Wesaw, Travis “Huggy” John, Nolan Lay, and Marty Jimerson Sr. have also made regular appearances.
According to Samatha, the page gets a lot of positive feed back from their followers, “People are just grateful for life to seem a little normal again.” People can hear music and dance again, even if at home. Listeners can learn new songs from singers from across Turtle Island from the comfort of home. “Some people live far from home and weren’t hearing our songs and dances and this is a chance for them to get that home feeling again.” Many elders tune in with their families and let the Spruces know that the socials uplift their spirits.
The Quarantine Social Dance Page has been given permission to host spring a “Mini Sing.” Groups will sign up with Samatha or Solon and will have a time slot signed to sing their set of songs live on the Quarantine Social Dance starting in the early afternoon, then the social will continue as it regularly does. The “Mini Sing” will be SUNDAY, MAY 16th 12pm! Get your songs and sets together! “We’re excited to hear and see everyone again like we used to before all of this. Be safe and take care of each other”, says Samatha.
“I look forward to it every Sunday. I like listening. There are good singers and songs on there that I’ve never heard or seen before. They’re from all Nations. I learned new songs and like to practice singing at home”, says Hiram Watt, a regular Sunday follower.
Hodinöhsöni’ music is a generational bridge of extended family; grandfathers, grandmothers, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, and cousins, whom continue to share our traditions, love, and culture with each other as the Creator intended. Young singers are developing new sets while hanging on to classic tones of their respected ancestors. Singing is a way of gathering, loving, and celebrating with each other for not only ceremonies but for entertainment and inspiration as well. Don’t forget to tune in every Sunday and watch for “Mini Sing” updates!
