I just want to reply to you about sundance. I would like to dance it very much, but I cannot, because I am a woman. But if it proves that I am serious, I could pierce my wrist or slash my skin, because that's what women could do at the Sun Dance.At the last year's powwow, an Indianist named War Bonnet did a real sun dance, with all the poles and suffering. I think that Sky Hawk had simply been at a wrong powwow, there are two powwows in Russia, at one of them they do not do a REAL sun dance, they just imitate it. While I have never lived on the rez,(there are no
reservations in Russia) I was raised in similar conditions: a log house without heat in a dying-out village, with  a lot of
alcoholism and poverty around me.

I do not steal your culture. The government in the 1890's stole it when they made the little Indian children go to the boarding schools, they took it away from them. I do not take anything away from you or anybody else. And haven't the Natives "stolen" the Catholic faith and desecrated it through the use or peyote? Or do you think you are entitled to take the trappings of White culture (computers, shops, colleges) just because they are White and you are not? Doesn't it seem a little absurd?

And if you call me a wannabe, I 'm darn proud of it. The suffragists and women's rights advocates were called "wannabe" men and ridiculed, the African-Americans that longed for economic freedom through hard work instead of battling Whites and asking them for handouts were called "Uncle Toms" and again, "wannabe" whites, So, maybe something will get out of it.

From your messages Whitehawk you obviously lack in the necessary Native peoples knowledge of spiritual ways re: the sundance. In  the weeks to come my website will address this topic. I have not really written anything on this subject, nor done much art work here either--At least the past art works done have not been shown thru the internet. It is a topic among US modern Indians that we must be careful how we present. There are many imitators out
there in the world and I would not want to give anyone any false ideas of the sundance. There are some terrible stories to tell of those not sufficiently taught in native spiritual ways who have caused great harm to themselves and others.
On the matter of visiting Russia: I have been in your country on many visits from 1990 on--Via the Sacred Run 1990. I have been invited to many of the "powwows" thru Indianists friends from St.Petersburg to western Siberia, Altai mountain region...In general I have met two "companies" of Russian Indianists located in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Then in the following countries there are Indianists/hobby groupswhich invited me for visits to their "powwows" and camp outs. England, France, Swiss, Belgium, Czech R., Solvic R., Poland, etc., and largest of all Germany (former GDR, I  mention the east this way due to the wall coming down, Indianists have changed some what).
Let me end on a positive note. Because I have known so many hundreds of Indianists thru the years and many Eurasian peoples have visited my Blackfeet Indian Country during sundance season in the summer time, I write with the intention to help people think about my experiences and educate those who think they know more than us Indians. I make fun of the Indianists in Euro and America--Oh yeah! We have our share of wannabes in the US! But,
most of the Indanists who have gone thru their "playing" stage can see I'm writing in a way to make a little fun. It is an ndn thing to make fun of folks, especially, if you like them. So many Indianist friends I have made over the years have invited me into their homes. In Russia where I have firsthand experienced the poverty of your country, the people always managed to offer me their best. Friends are organizing a visa to Russia for me soon and who knows, maybe, we meet at your campfire.
Thank you for your messages. I welcome them any time and look forward to more discussion. And if you can ever come to America, you and yours are always welcome to visit my Rez...
Your ndn friend, SkyHawk

I am a Wannabee/Wishiwas Indian born in Russia and living in America. I saw the discussion that is going on here and decided to add my two cents.
First, if you think that my plain buckskin dress, a headband with one little eagle feather, that I earned for saving the life of my brother (that's where my name comes from), and a beaded necklace and earrings bought at the Navajo Rez are "fancy outfits", look at the powwow regalia of your own tribe. They don't even look like Indians in this. At least, not like traditional Indians.
Regarding sundance: Different tribes have different sundances, and the one of the Blackfeet might have different connotations and ceremonies than the Lakota's. But, anyway, using the sacred ceremony to prove one's point of "seriousness" is a sign of being not serious.
Skyhawk: Of course, if you dress up like a German, take a beer can in your hand and go to Germany claiming you are German in your heart, you will be laughed at. But this does not mean you cannot cook German food, learn German language, tell German fairy tales to your kids, or visit the country. The same with Native Americans. I've noticed two paradoxical things from my (often unpleasant) interactions with the Natives:
1) The very those Native Americans who do not want white people to learn their language and culture claim both are dying out and something needs to be done. Many of the people who described and preserved Lakota culture and language were white, no matter how the Natives don't like it (Catlin, Mails, etc)
2) The very those Natives that want me to return to my ancestors' culture STILL want me to buy their dreamcatchers and other trappings. Nope, my friends. It goes either one way or the other. If I am fully immersed in the culture of my ancestors, what the clodhopper do I need a dreamcatcher for?
The question of guilt: I don't think I owe anything to the Natives or that they owe anything to me simply because I am
white. Neither I nor my ancestors took part in whatever took place in the 19th century, they didn't take anybody's land, and those Native Americans who try to make individual whites accountable for the actions of the government are racists. If there was any inborn sin in being white, Custer died for it. Case closed.
One misunderstanding about the land question: If the Native Americans did not believe in land ownership, how can they claim that the fat-takers took it from them? How can I steal something from you that is not yours?

Wishiwas, Many of your thoughts I can agree with. Esp., that of ndns fighting over land rights when they claim their old ones did not own the land, etc. My tribe Blackfeet/Nez Perce/Umatilla do follow their traditional ways and dress in ol' ways when not in the presence of non ndns. Some ceremonies I guess you missed out on. Not all people are invited into Kiva ceremonies for example. We have our ways secret ways that we wish to remain so. A
Sundance does not confirm who we are anymore than your Russian Orthodox religion confirms you're Russianist! I definitely agree with ndns owing much to many outside-foreigners writers/documentationers/historians/even religious clergy for saving our language and many of our ceremonies, knowledge.But, at the same time we have saved more than you non-ndns give us credit for. Our old language has never been fully documented and still has a good chance of being lost. The old people think we younger generation do not deserve perserving our old language
or the old songs and stories--Thus they are being lost everyday some old one dies.
 I did not wish to get into a discussion with you on my messageboard re: such important matters. The Sundance is also something that I think you know little about...and I must add into future discussions and art work. I do not wish to embarass you or anyone on this matter.
 I am always open to dialogue...I am not asking you to buy any dreamcatcher from me.
 White people stole millions of native peoples lives. Never mind the land...Don't even get me started on proving your ignorance.
No offense..
Your ndn friend, SkyHawk