Youngsters part of preserving American Indian cultural at Red Earth
A young dancer walks in the Red Earth Festival Parade Friday morning in downtown Oklahoma City. Red Earth continues through Sunday at the Cox Convention Center. (Photo by Ashley McKee/The Oklahoman)
A version of this story appears in Saturday’s The Oklahoman.
At Red Earth, love of dancing spans the generations
Amid the flowing feathers, bouncing bells and flying fringe of their grown-up counterparts, some tiny dancers could be seen circling the Cox Convention Center Arena Friday during the first grand entry of the 2009 Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival.
From little fancy dancers whose bustles seemed almost too big for their narrow shoulders to teenage princesses whose cell phones looked incongruous with their finery, many children celebrated their American Indian heritage at the festival, which runs through Sunday.
“I think it’s good for them because a lot of us lost our heritage and our culture and … doing this kind of gets them back into the activities of it,” said McLoud resident Kathryn Geionety, who is of Kiowa and Hopi descendent.
Grass dancer Talyn Manley, 9, of McLoud, wears regalia his grandmother made. (BAM photo)
Her sons, outgoing Talyn Manley, 9, and shy Melvin Manley, 5, have been dancing in powwows since they were babies but were at Red Earth for the first time. His roach headdress bobbing, Talyn, a grass dancer, excitedly shared that he and his brother rode in the festival parade with their dad, a Chicksaw Wildland firefighter, and Smokey the Bear.
“It was awesome,” Talyn exclaimed.
The boy said his grandmother made his red, yellow, black and white outfit, and he got to pick the colors. He enjoys dancing, though the hard part is “making up tricks” to make the dance his own.
“I like winning money – and the fun of it,” said Talyn, who also likes hip-hop dancing.
For many youngsters, Red Earth is a family activity. Throughout the arena stands Friday, relatives helped children braid their hair and don various pieces of their regalia. Getting ready for the event is a fun but serious affair, said Jereldine Redcorn, the Caddo potter named the 2009 Red Earth Honored One.
“It usually involves like almost a community, the aunts and uncles making the moccasins, and men doing the feather work. And to put it all together there’s probably the mother who said, ‘I think these colors would work best,’” she said.
Fancy shawl dancer Delaney Cowden, 7, of Newton, Kan., shows the regalia her aunt made for her. The horses are a tribute to her grandfather, who died in October. (BAM photo)
For Delaney Cowden, 7, of Newton, Kan., the yellow, white and black horses racing across her golden dress and shawl have special family significance. When the fancy shawl dancer needed new regalia this year, she chose the horse design to honor her grandfather, Jim Cowden, who died of cancer in October. Her grandfather raised quarter horses and taught her to ride.
“I used to dance for other reasons, but I dance for my grandfather now,” said Delaney, who is Assiniboine and Cherokee and started dancing when she was 2.
Delaney’s aunt, Janelle Murk of Topeka, Kan., made the girl’s regalia.
“It’s very family oriented and she’s met a lot of people from all over,” Murk said.
Little Miss Seminole Nation Sierra Price, 8, of Cromwell, wears regalia her grandmother made for her. The patchwork on her skirt represents the clans in her family history. (BAM photo)
Dancers aren’t the only youngsters involved in Red Earth. Sierra Price, 8, of Cromwell won the Little Miss Seminole Nation pageant and represents her tribe at events, takes Seminole language classes and follows tribal government.
“It’s a lot of work and you get to meet a whole lot of people,” she said. “And it’s fun.”
Her grandmother, Sheila Harjo, made her regalia, including the intricate, colorful skirt. The patchwork on it represents the girl’s family ties to the wind, deer and panther clans. She also is teaching Sierra how to make the patchwork.
“It really tells who you are and where you come from,” Harjo said.
Seeing children taking part in their cultural traditions also is fun for festival-goers.
“(American Indians) have endured a lot of suffering over the years … and the fact that they’re able to maintain their culture and their heritage through their art and their dance is wonderful. And they pass it on to their children,” said Gary Borchert, who is Cherokee. “They pass on their culture and I think that’s very admirable.”
Borchert and his wife, Sharon, came from Tulsa to attend Red Earth for the first time.
“I think every Oklahoman should come and observe it and be proud for their state. It’s worthwhile,” Sharon Borchert said.
Going on
23rd Annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival
When: Today and Sunday.
Where: Cox Convention Center, downtown.
One-day passes: Adults, $10; senior citizens 60 and older, $7.50; children ages 6-17, $7.50; children younger than 5 admitted free. Group rates available.
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.
Information: 427-5228 or www.redearth.org.
-BAM
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