Luna,

Thanks so much for writing all of this! It says everything that needs to be said about our little group and what we're trying to accomplish.

It's very important to all of us to earn the respect of the Romani community for what we do, and we will continue to strive to do so.

Shuvani is one of my favorite artistic projects, and I look forward to a long and happy future being a part of it.

Dear Amy,

This is a very long letter in reponse that has taken me a very long time to offer. I hope you have the paitence and that my words are clear.


I have taken much time to respond to the "response" lol, of my first comments. I have went to my understanding of spirit about it, and I hope you will hear my good feelings in what I say to you, while trying to understand our position.

It is very hard for me, for I have lived in the last twenty years a road that is in between both worlds.

When I was much younger, I felt it was insane or at least "something wrong" with one race exluding themselves from all races, and I knew and was a child of the history!

I was one of the girls who could not date, prearanged marriages, did not go to school, and I like everyone else was a "young girl".
So although I come from a very traditional subculture, I do understand being born in America and having a desire to be one with "all" my community.

I also was a black sheep of my family, (imagine that, a black sheep of the "Rroma", lol).

They love me very much for which I am grateful, but they thought me a little crazy sometimes, because I felt so strong for the rest of the world, (peace ,love and hippie beads, lol). Serioulsy though, I am aware of all of our need to evolve in these grand times.

I was a "rainbow" Rromni, lol
and married outside after a terrible prearangment marriage that ended badly and vowed "never again", lol..

I am now near forty, my beliefs have not become bitter (just less naive).

I am still very accepted as a well known Rromni undo murro Kumpania; and I pray a loving sister of the world community of various cultures and races I am friends with, including some of the Anglos.

My "Gysho" Husband was eventually brought into the Kumpania, which is rare, but not unheard of.

If the "outsider" works hard enough, long enough to prove himself and his love, even the Rroma (if the girls is dedicated enough) will give in.

Yet, with age comes wisdom and I have traveled outside my people on the droma for many years as well.

What I have seen I can not lie, has been hurtful, and I was one of the ones who was accepting.

I appriciate what Shuvanni has done to go about this in the most respectful way, and although I will be more careful later on, I have seen the webb site and must say, I still dont feel you understand.

I dont think it is thier fault, in fact, if there was one to do it correctly, your lashey tem, (good people) would be it.

I know of the people they speak of, Ian Hancock I speak to regulary, Rom Harold was a personal friend of murro Poppos .
And his latest book "the Dictionary of Rromanes" was due to a large assistance from one of my direct relatives who's name in our people is "Vaso" He was and is a Mineshto Elder, (my own tribe).

The list goes on.

My grandfather was so well known, we dealt with every type of Rromani, thats why I had the good fortune of being able to have a little more freedom when I went a differnt road

They knew I had calling, and thier was certain rules I could not obey.

If these Rroma you mention said, "sure go ahead, but this is how you do it"

it would have been against our own Zokonula (laws) as no one person has the right to give permission of something that effects the whole of the people.
And if one knows the entire race has problems with "outsiders" to begin with, one might have come to the conclusion that although one might be a very respected and well loved professor of the Rromani Studies, it does not mean he is the Leader" of the Rromani themselves. With great respect to my Elder, I think he would be the first to admit that.

Did you really wish to be an honest friend to the Rroma,?
Please forgive me for questioning, but I do.

Or is it that you wish to perfrom and imatate a race you are not?

As far as the Webb site, I think you and I both know that because Rroma (the people themselves of todays times) are so unknown, anyone who performs Rromani are considerd Rromani from the people who attend and appriciate your dances.

I know this from those who perfrom at the Oregon fair festival every year for thirty years, the bands , rennisaunce festivals, the ones who have litterally stolen stories I have spoken and made songs with them,...to then call me "friend?

The challnge is that because we are still struggling to become an organised race (privatly first)
there is no one person being able to bring decisions such as these to any one open to all public court/Krissa.

Please understand, it is my dream that we would all be doing our dances and each
others dances of the whole world culture; it is just that it is a very practical complaint, dont rush our own movement before we are ready!
that I feel if you knew the inner workings of the people themselves, you could see how this undermines our own "comming out" with "our own" dances, musica, etc.

If you say, "well I wish to, but they wont let me"

Is it possible to love them enogh to allow this to be?

Most importantly, it undermines the work we Younger generations here in the States are trying to do to make the people see "the Gyshey" are not stealing from us, once again, so that we can become closer and friends.

I also have heard no response to using our most sacred "medicine names. Did you know that in our private Kumpania, we are not allowed to use it, less we "are one"

I feel as though I must say;
Although I can clearly see your position for believing you went about doing it the "right way", but you see, if there is no "right way" (unless you were to go through very rigerous rights of passage, with much sacrafise to beocme an accepted member and even then its only if they let you) would you have not done it? Or even more so...stop?

You are correct, maybe I lumped you in to many so called good hearted people who love and appriciate us so much they care not what happens to our people.....today

Yet, I must also tell you, that if you were in agreement with our peoples laws, you would have not responded to me in the way you did.

You did nothing wrong, its just certain ways of being that we have a language and etiqutte all our own.

I was ignorent to not come to your webb site first, didnt know there was one, so I commented to you the only way I understood, please forgive me.

After I had seen the man who wrote after you, I knew I had to come to the same place, for I feel you have not said all that needs to be said, its our Grandmothers Dances, not yours....

How would he feel if it was the other way around.

I am sure he loves this "artist project", but to us it is so much more.

As far as not being able to make profit;

It was never my intention to hope that you do not.

Why a dance troop would not make money at something many people wish to see, when I see many profiting in other groups, non Rromani, I have no idea, but please know, I will take your word for it.

Do you make enough to not lose money to eat.
Do you have to do Jobs your cultural and spiritual laws are against in order to be in it?

Do you have to be criminals in order to feed your children?

For that is what we are looking at again, after many many moons of waiting.

If you say, "why dont you do it?"

I will tell you,

We are!, but now the people are getting confused and tired of the whole "imatation" and guess who that effects?

Now many tachey Rroma do not wish to,because to them, and yes thier ignorence; they feel it will be a joke, a cirus, a clown.

Cant dance with no Rroma musicans, Cant sing without my Guitar boys; lol, and for me, it has become kina late, but I am hoping the younger ones if possible might have a chance.

You see, your speaking to the ones who have already came out, not the vast majority who is still to afraid or to angrey to.

Another thing is that; sometimes Rroma will tell a group of people who wish to portray us compleatly incorrect information, to throw them off the trail.
I would not know, I have not seen your dances, but I hear they are amazing and very skilled.

The bottom line is that; there are millions of Rroma with no one concensous, and the ones that are used for the vast majority of us; you have not even met.

I love Ian Hancock, I have a newphew whos mother was from the Rititeshtee, (Ristics), and was raised up with every single tribe in the United States and abroad, it is documented through my Grandparents in the Smithsoinian.

Julia is Tachi Rromni, but again, I am unsure if she is aware of our personal kumpanias inner laws here in the states, and she is here to help promote assitance for our most batterd people openly, the Rromani abroad.

Them you may have some support in how you may bring awareness to the peoples plight abrod, to inform the American People, but to the hundreds of thousands of Rromani here who need to create thier own way in western America in order for us not to "assimulate" into the gysheekannea........, I am very conserned.. we are very endangerd for the first time in seven generations.

To be even more blunt, I have seen so many I have personally loved outside of the kumpania, people who have cried and have given "money" to our causes kuden modey mai bookie (completly taboo behavior and disrespect), that I am yes, kina tired of the "I am the exception"

And for the sake of proper information, Our Kumpania is one of the largest groups, and is known for musica, dance for many many centries, we are the "shuvvanya". It is them that this is potentially harming, not the Rroma who have in part already assimulated in the other Countries from the extensive and outright genoside that has been going on without anyone even speaking about it.

They I know is the ones seemingly in need , but what is not focused on, is one of the largest migrations who against all odds survived and has living relatives in those countries till today.

We are saying, we do not wish it to happen to us or our Children here.

What would it be if you found out that there was only a very few special gifts and skills you were blessed with to create your livley hood for your race, you could do no other and still retain your own culture; after awaiting so many generations for so long, because for so long your entire race was hated beond all comprehension, (including in my own lifetime)?

As crazy as it Sounds, that is why I who have never ever liked "compeating" with my own brothers and Sisters, (nothing is mine, everything belongs to great Spirit)
Takes chance with cool Sisters and brothers that "personally" I do not wish to be upset with me,.... speak up anyway?



When the Native American Tribes put me through the ringer to make sure we were with them for the reasons thier laws gave them, to know I was whom I claimed as a spiritual being,there was no question, Nor the Azteca's, or Afrikia.

Yet , I could not say my feelings about my own race, people and cultural laws, rights without anyone outside our own truly understanding; or for that matter caring, enough.....


Rovav Rrovav Devla.


I know I made this all sound as though you have done something wrong, that was and is not my intention, (well maybe about the guy a little, lol)
It is just a very hard to understand a need that even if we could tell you everything, it would be still hard to understand less you lived amongst us for many many moons.

You all are beautiful and from what you first told me, I can see you did everything in your understanding at the time you felt you could to make sure you were honering us, and if this is posted so all might see who come here, how much I as a daguhter of the Rromani appriciate and respect you for it.
But I can not and at this time the way it is going, "will not" as the Grand daughter of the American Baro Rrom of America Karldaresh mineshto , Toma Stanley say I approve of you doing our peoples musica, dances instead of us, or without correct approval, (our laws, not yours).

If you so desire, I am sure you will find some Rromen who will support you, but I am not impressed, for it was not a general consesnous, for if it was, I would be teaching and training with you, if you would have left me.
the people will be able to make up thier own minds and we can allow the spirit of truth and justice to show us and teach us, in its good space as it is willed divine.

I pray that our race in America will find thier way home to themselves and to all the people that truly love ley Rroma. I pray that all who truly wish to love and be authentic friends with us will find thier way to us....and then we can "truly"......... celebrate with song and dance!!

OPREY , USHTEN < KULEN< GEELABALEN DENDUMA RROMALEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OPA!

Peace out and no worries, if anyone is doing it right, you people are, and no one is more aware then us, No one is there race, we all come from spirit.

I hope this is taken as some good education from a respected Sister and you might do something that your heart shows you that will assist the medicine of the sacred dance and all that who have sufferd so much has done and sacrafised to preserve it.

With great respect and meaning no offense, (sorry if I am putting a daper on your image)

To many years, to many suffering for me to say, you already have, not enough.

Nais Tumenga
Tamara Demetro
Princess and Grand daughter to the King of the American Rromani Kalrdaresh Mineshtee Vista


P.S

After this is done, I hope we can get on to other things, this is a tired subject, my heart is tired about it.

Tamara

We live collectively on the earth together. I am of the mindset that when people take interest in your culture and respect it , one should have great pride in that. Music and dance comes from the heart. It is not something you can own it is an expression of emotion. Shuvani is respectful and talented and spend hours of research and , continue with your art please. It would be nice to have world harmony at some point.