Interview · North Dakota · Oliver Gourd · NDNAEU 2
Themes: Storytelling & oral tradition, Spirituality & ceremony, Values & generosity, Culture & continuity, Arts & expression, Children & young people
Learn About questions
Where do Dakota people live in North Dakota?
What are some examples of powwow dances?
What are some examples of items that are beaded?
How are beads added to clothing and moccasins?
Who is Wakan Tanka?
What does it mean to have humility?
A Dakota value is to practice placing no one above another…how is that practiced today?
Why did Beautiful Flower choose to always misplace one bead on each item she created? In what ways did that follow Dakota values?
How is Wakan Tanka perfect?
Learn From questions
What are areas in my life that I strive for perfection?
In what ways am I like Beautiful Flower, and in what ways am I different from her?
What is my own experience of humility? Is it difficult or easy for me to practice? Why?
Who is Wakan Tanka to me?
What are my own values that are most important to me? How did I learn those values and how do I practice them?
What are my feelings regarding perfectionism? Is it something I want/need in my life or do I prefer imperfection?
Transcripts
Oliver Gourd- Story of Perfections & Imperfections, NDNAEU 2
Watch this interview on YouTubeThis is a TR this is a story about our imperfections and Perfections there was once is very honorable and respected beautiful dakot woman I once knew whom was well known throughout in the country for her Perfection and her bead work a beautiful bead work uh during her youth she danced was a champion dancer had many po and had many admirers because of her beauty of blemish character and the way she held herself would respect her indan name was a beautiful flower was crowned the Power Princess of her tribe one day fine young handsome Dakota man caught her eyed he fell in love and married wanka gifted her with many beautiful children all of whom also became well known and admir Champion dancers through Indian Country she would beat all her children’s dancing outfits all the way from Tiny Tots to adulthood as well as many other dancers outfits who came from uh dancers would come would travel hundreds of miles to purchase her Artistry which became well known and desired her work was Perfection beautiful and always did the best she could she could beautiful flower I always believed Patrick her many traditional Dakota ways I always remember humility our great an belief was we’re all equal and no one is above the other there may be times when you think we are perfect or times when we think we know it all that’s when we don’t know much we also should try to do the best we can and whatever we do what our lives learn and practice our dcota values and spiritual beliefs our ancestors passed down through many generations to many uh of the dancers uh beautiful flower bead work was Perfection but only the Elders of the tribe knew and would notice her bead work which will always had one misplaced bead a different size a different color within her bead R people won notice that they just they just cuz they so good and then she always did this on purpose because she was taught and learned one of our theota spiritual beliefs that we are never perfect but strive to be and there is only one who is perfect that he is wanka God
Resource text
NDNAEU Alignment:
Affiliation sources
NDNAEU document credits: Oliver Gourd — Spirit Lake (Dakota).
Source materials
Supplied transcript documents. Text and transcription uncertainties are preserved as supplied.