in Katherine Williams Migrating West Indians have brought their traditions and culture to North America. Theirs is a rich culture compounded of elements from Africa, the Middle East, China and the Far East, North and South America, and Europe. One expression of West Indian culture--is practiced Jumping-up in a Carnival band. from Brooklyn and other eastern Photograph courtesy of Trinidad & Tobago dates from the traditional pre­ seaboard cities, to the Canadian Embassy. Washington, D. C. Lenten season to other times when cities of Montreal and , their own attention, and that of formed the parade of costumed, and across the continent to Los the tourists who have become in­ elite individuals content to ride in Angeles. The largest and oldest creasingly important to their carriages into a roadmarch of Carnival in North America began in economies, can be focused specif­ dancing, jumping revelers. During Harlem in the mid-1940s. The ically on their own festival. In World War II, musicians creqted an Festival was later moved to North America, Caribbean com­ original musical instrumen~ out of Brooklyn in 1967 and is run by the munities organize their Carnivals discarded oil drums, replacing the West Indian-American Day to take advantage of summer skin drum with the new steel drum. Carnival Association, Inc. weather and to avoid conflicting Thus steel-band music was born. Carnival has become a with any neighboring com­ And so the Trinidad Carnival, commonly shared and much­ munity's carnival. whose particular character had anticipated activity among West Caribbean peoples continue to been forged in a history of com­ Indians who live in North America. engage in the rites of Carnival. For munity conflict and fusion, con­ It is a time for coming together, a in the world of Carnival everyday tinued to develop its own distinctly time to greet old friends with a social realities recede, at least for "new world" musical sound. "What's happenin', man?," the duration of the rite, as each Community conflicts exist today: accompanied by much hugging, participant connects with another costume bands still reflect societal kissing, and back slapping. People reality- a collective inner world of cleavages based on wealth, status, travel to all parts of the United community from which each re­ and color. And the Carnival Queen States, Canada, and the turns with a new strength. Competition was dropped recently Caribbean; the flow of people is because of black resentment that Suggested Reading continuous. Carnival is a reason to white and light-skinned entrants Crowley, Daniel J . "The Meanings of enjoy oneself in the traditional usually won. Yet the majority of Carnival," Clarion, Feb. 24, 1954. ways, a reason to be with friends Trinidadians, rich and poor, will­ ----. "The 'ltaditional Masques of and family. ingly "play mas," many at great Carnival." Caribbean Quarterly. 4 (1956}, Carnival has many names: it is economic expense and personal 194-223. "Mas" in Brooklyn, "Caribana" in sacrifice, and many travel great Elder, Jacob D. "Color, Music and Conflict: Toronto, and Carnival in Montreal. A Study of Aggression in 'ltinidad with It is enjoyed by native-born North distances each year to get home for Reference to the Role of 'ltaditional Music." Carnival. Carnival has seemingly Ethnomusicology. 8, No. 2 (1964}, 128-136. Americans, by immigrants other imbedded itself in the very soul of ----.From Congo Drum to than West Indians, by recent the Trinidadian people. Steelband: A Socio-historical Account of the Emergence·and Evolution of the Trinidad Katherine Williams is a native of 'ltinidad Carnival is an intrinsic part of and Thbago, a country knownfor its community life in many other Steel Orchestra. 'ltinidad: University of the West Indies, 1969. annual celebration of one of the most Caribbean countries and it con­ coloiful and popular Carnivals in the Hill, Errol, The Trinidad Carnival: Mandate Western Hemisphere. She has served as a tinues to flourish and to adapt to for a National Theatre. Austin: University changing circumstances. Not judge in several Carnival contests both in of Texas Press, 1972. 'ltinidad and Canada. Afree lance writer, wanting to be overshadowed by Soyinka, Wole, Myth, Literature and the lecturer and consultant, she is presently Trinidad's celebration, many other African World. London: Cambridge coordinating the Caribbean segment of the islands have shifted their Carnival University Press, 1976. Folklife Festival, 1979. 11 arrivals from the Caribbean who remember Carnival at home, and most importantly, by second-and third-generation West Indian­ Americans who have never been to the West Indies but who have been regaled with stories of what it is like back home. Sights, sounds, and movement are elements of Carnival. These are embodied in the cultural forms of pageantry, , and dance. Costume designs may reflect historical and scientific research or they may be highly fanciful and imaginative. Themes portray history, comedy, fashion, or Young Mas Player amidst the crowd in The mood is one of spontaneous science. The designer arrays his or Brooklyn, New York. Photograph by Roy S. participation. Carnival is, in fact, her band of followers in materials Bryce Laporte one huge, open-air fete. that carry out his fancy or fantasy: some play in the community Children are encouraged to silks, satins, velvets, chiffons. throughout the year. Still others participate in the preparation and There is much glitter of sequins form only at Carnival time. Some celebration of Carnival; special and rhinestones and elegance brass bands accompany the "Mas" Carnival parades and shows are ofbeadwork, flowing capes, players at the street parade. Their organized for their benefit. magnificent trains, bare legs, high amplified sound comes from Immigrant parents feel the need floats designed to accommodate flatbed trucks as they inch their for their children to recognize and wind resistance, feathers, waving way slowly along the crowded appreciate their heritage and pennants. The color and spectacle parade route. Steel bands that go culture. An opportunity to identify are breathtaking! around on mobile platforms also with other members of a cultural Millions of dollars are spent add to the musical ambience. Not group through participation in a annually in making costumes. all costumed band leaders can special event can be important for Uncounted millions more account afford to retain a live band, one's social well-being. Carnival is for the man-hours lovingly however. Out of this need the the principal social activity expended in the planning and mobile unit evolved: tape through which West Indians from execution of Carnival. In North recordings of a steel or brass the widest range of generations, American society, where stresses orchestra playing the current classes, countries, and hues are are greater than those in the calypsoes from loudspeakers able to identify, interact with, and Caribbean and free time is mounted on cars. enjoy one another. consequently a luxury, only the North American parades travel Indeed Carnival has provided a very committed engage in the along predetermined routes; on new cultural focus and has created actual making of a band, the Caribbean islands, pleasure an economy of its own in the making of a Carnival. seekers roam from one street to communities of many North Beautiful costumes without another, selecting bands with American cities where people of music is like Christmas without which to "jump up" (that is, dance West Indian descent are concen­ Santa Claus, for music is an joyously). But North Americans trated. Its continuity will be the integral part of the festivities. have improvised small booths that product of the infusion of talent of Calypsonians and music bands are offer a variety of recorded sound new immigrants, the participation imported from the West Indies to along and at the end of the parade of children of West Indian provide this essential ingredient. route. The choices are calypso, parentage, and the appeal that it Some Calypsonians and musical soul, or , and people gather holds for the North American groups come from North America; to dance in front of these booths. public as a whole.

12 Energy Cons IVation and Native American Architecture Peter Nabokov Glossary In off-the-freeway pockets of while fall and winter saw the rural America, pre-Columbian cus­ community move west in pursuit Band: Music Band: may be either toms for beating tqe heat and of buffalo. On the Northwest coast steel or brass; provides music for fighting the cold are still practiced. that pattern was reversed: there costumed individuals and for In the 1870s American Indian the cherished townsites were the other participants. Costume band: house life was investigated by coastal winter towns with their costumed group of individuals Lewis Henry Morgan, the "father of impressive communal houses ex­ coming together to play as a unit. American anthropology;" princi­ pertly carpentered al).d carved from The band theme determines the pally to discover what it revealed of cedar. In summertime the wall costume's design. social life. But new interest in na­ boards of these great houses were Calypso (also called "Kaiso"): tive American dwellings has begun taken down, lashed between Popular folk music, the lyrics to focus on its energy efficient canoes for a trip upriver to the of which are generally social features as well as the symbolism salmon fishing stretches, then commentaries expressed in We1jt of traditional Indian structures. used to roof the more lightly con­ Indian creole and that rhyme in a This fall, outside of McLoud, structed shelters. catchy tune and danceable To both the plains and coastal rhythm. Okla., Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Cup­ pawhe will be among the Kickapoo peoples, however, lodges were con­ Calypsonian: One who composes families moving large cattail roof­ sidered sacred earthly representa­ and sings calypsoes. ing mats from the peaked frames tions of the tribal universe. During Fete: Activity in which people of their summer houses to their sacred periods in the tribal calen­ gather to dance and enjoy haystack-shaped winter houses. dar they became temples of the themselves. Held in the open or in During summer, mats are laid on community. a dance hall, usually lasting the roof allowing cooling breezes to The confinement of reservation four-six hours. waft through the wide openings life, however, limited such cus­ Jump Up: Rhythmic movement left by loosely tied side boards and toms and seasonal movements. ranging from slow shuffle of tired beneath raised sleeping benches. Still, on the third weekend of Au­ feet to spirited, continuous jumps In winter, however, the "wikiup" is gust one can find Plains Indian 12-18" off the ground. This is done shrouded to the ground with tribes reliving the heyday of the to the beat of the calypso. layers of mats. The Kickapoo be­ horse riding and tipi-dwelling era at Crow Agency, Mont. More than Mas (Abbreviation for lieve they were taught this pattern 300 tipis lift their proud, green­ "masquerade"): Refers to the of dual residence by Wisaka, a tufted poles to the sky as the old collective festivities of carnival. An culture hero, who also showed sacred circle of lodges is restored. individual is called a "Mas" or "Mas them how to transfer the sacred During the Crow Fair the middays Player." central fire with each move. are often broiling, and an occa­ (To) Play Mas: The act of wearing a Many Indian peoples tradition­ sional hem of a canvas tipi cover is costume and parading either ally enjoyed more than one resi­ raised and propped on sticks to individually or in bands during dence; these dwellings were farther allow air flow. During cool nights Carnival celebrations. apart than the two minute walk they are pegged to the ground. Road March: The tune played by between the Cuppawhes' summer Inside, a liner, or "dew cloth," is the greatest number of music and winter homes. On the precon­ fastened from the base of the tipi bands at carnival. tact Great Plains, fortified villages poles to about six feet up, creating of immense, semi-subterranean Suggested Reading a draft to lift smoke through the earth lodges kept people cool dur­ top hole. During a sudden down­ Williams, Katherine. "Where else but ing the summer farming season, America?" Annapolis: Fishergate pour the women hastily cross over Publishing, 1977. Peter Nabokov has done extensivefield the smokeflaps at the top of the Justus, Joyce Bennett. "West Indians in research in Native American societies. He tipi with the aid of long poles. Los Angeles: Community and Identity," in has written several books and articles based on hisfindings, inclttding Native Tipis no longer protect Indians Caribbean Immigration to the United American Testimony: An Anthology of In­ from harsh high plains winters, States. Roy S. Bryce Laporte and Delores dian and White Relations. He is at present but in the past, tribes like the M. Mortimer. Washington, D.C.: Research working on a book on the history and Institute on Immigration and Ethnic symbolism of Native American Crow, Blackfoot, Sioux, and Cree Studies, Smithsonian Institution, 1976. Architecture. were inventive at adapting them to 13