It may be that they were prevailed upon to do as part of the Reservation deal, but the fact remains that Omaha Indians are born and enthusiastic performers. Watching items such as the Ladies’ Cloth, Shawl and Buckskin Dress dances and those that the men perform - such as the Gourd, Tail and Whipman’s dances, is an unforgettable experience of color, vibrancy and ethnic splendor.

The Omaha Indian’s concept of music is essentially an interactive one. In other words, a song is meant to be used and lived. The idea of passive or insignificant music is an alien one to these people. The songs presented on this innovative CD from A2ZCDS are live dance recordings from the 1983 Omaha Indians Pow-wow at Macy, Nebraska:

Gourd Dance Songs

The Gourd Dance Society is an ‘elite’ performing troupe among the Omaha Indians. Their renditions are an essential ingredient of most social gatherings, such as birthday celebrations and events honoring war veterans. These songs may or may not be accompanied by words.

Tail Dancer’s Songs

There are some strange customs attached to this category of dances. Tail Dancers dance the final chorus of the song. The dancers actually wear ‘tails’ that are considered sacred and highly symbolic. Tail dance songs are sung through several times and everyone gets to dance on the extended tail.

Whipman’s Songs

The Whipman is especially appointed to exhort the audience to participate in the festivities. At the Omaha Indians Pow-wow of 1983, the Whipman was David Blackbird. Whipman’s songs are not accompanied by words. In accordance with their purpose, the pace of these songs is usually quite frenetic and inspiring.

The songs featured on the Omaha Indians Music: Fancy Dance Songs CD are excerpts from the most festive and flamboyant sections of the 1983 Pow-wow at Macy, Nebraska.