Professor of History Clyde Ellis was invited to present his most recent research at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Historical Society in Enid, Okla., on April 28.
His talk, “Daddy Told Us Girls To Just Put On Those Bustles and Go Dance: Young Women and the Changing Nature of Southern Plains Powwow Dancing, 1950-2010,” examines how and with what consequences young women have appropriated dance styles and clothing that have typically been used exclusively by men.
This research is based on extensive fieldwork and interviews in Southern Plains Indian communities, and reveals that the phenomenon has been shaped by a complicated mix of kinship connections, a determination to innovate, and a willingness to respect some traditions and limits while challenging others.