Post by Okwes on Jul 26, 2006 10:27:02 GMT -5
Celebrating Native American culture
By Erny Zah <The Daily Times>
www.daily-times.com/news/ci_4087307
World Champion hoop
dancer Nakotah LaRance, 16, from Flagstaff, Ariz., performs during the
5th Annual Indian Market and Festival at Berg Park Sunday. (Lucas
Coshenet/The Daily Times) FARMINGTON �" Jeremiah Nashio, 17, an
Apache Crown Dancer, looked to the north and saw a dark purple cloud.
"We're going to try to bring that (rain) by this evening," he said,
while looking at the rain cloud. The cloud eventually covered the
spectators, vendors and performers the annual Farmington Indian Center
Market that was held at Berg Park on Saturday and Sunday. The event
featured more 10 Native American artisans, who sold jewelry, drums,
paintings and photographs. In addition to the art, about 15 Native
American groups performed everything from traditional dances and songs
to contemporary country and western music. More than 1,500 people
attended the event over two days, said Edward Smiley, director of the
Farmington Intertribal Indian Center. The White Mountain Apache Crown
Dancers were from White River, Ariz. and were primarily members of the
White Mountain Apache Nation. There were six crown dancers that
transformed the sidewalk into a stage, while spectators sat under trees
and on the grass. The Apache Crown Dance isn't necessarily a "rain
dance" per say, but the dance has healing qualities, said Joe Tohonnie
Jr., the group's leader.
<http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_4087307#> Brandon Wright, 14, of
White River, Ariz., secures his crown to his head before he and the
other White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers perform at the 5th Annual
Indian Market and Festival on Sunday at Berg Park. (Lucas Coshenet/The
Daily Times) The dancers painted their bodies with black paint and
wore black masks. Each were adorned with crowns that were made from cut
pieces of wood. "I'm keeping my tradition alive (by dancing)," said
Harrison Watts, 18, of White River, Ariz., one of the dancers. He said
while he dances, he prays and thinks about his family. Particularly, he
thinks about his cousin that has been in a coma for over a year. "I
give my blessings to her," he said. Tohonnie, who sang for the dancers,
said he has been singing since he was six years old and was self taught
when it came to learning the songs. He said that his singing ability
was a gift that he contributes to his Apache grandfather, who was a
medicine man. "They always, always, always put on a good show," said Jo
Lieba-Jack, 35, of Shiprock. She said she was at the festival both days
and enjoyed all the performers who shared their singing and dancing.
"It's awesome," she said. The singing and dancing was just one aspect
of the weekend, Smiley said. "The main promotion of the show was for
the arts and crafts vendors. It's kind of hard for them to sell on a
daily basis," he said. Gloria Cooeyate, a Cochiti Pueblo, came to the
fair and said the business was "good" this past weekend. So good that
she plans on returning next year and plans to recommend the fair to
other Native American artisans. Her and her husband, Marcus Chalam,
sold drums and jewelry and expressed their appreciation for the
organizers. Chalam said he liked the different tribal ethnicities of
the performers. Some of the performances included an Eagle Dance by
dancers and singers from Laguna, some dances from Zuni, a teen hoop
dancer, a short gourd dance session, Native American Music Award winner
Radmilla Cody, Lil' Dre, Desert Sun and others. Smiley said next year
he hopes to add other tribal dances to the mix of dancers. "Every year
there are different tribal dancers," he said. Nashio said he was happy
to share some an aspect of his Apache tradition to people. "I want to
show them what we got back at home," he said.
By Erny Zah <The Daily Times>
www.daily-times.com/news/ci_4087307
World Champion hoop
dancer Nakotah LaRance, 16, from Flagstaff, Ariz., performs during the
5th Annual Indian Market and Festival at Berg Park Sunday. (Lucas
Coshenet/The Daily Times) FARMINGTON �" Jeremiah Nashio, 17, an
Apache Crown Dancer, looked to the north and saw a dark purple cloud.
"We're going to try to bring that (rain) by this evening," he said,
while looking at the rain cloud. The cloud eventually covered the
spectators, vendors and performers the annual Farmington Indian Center
Market that was held at Berg Park on Saturday and Sunday. The event
featured more 10 Native American artisans, who sold jewelry, drums,
paintings and photographs. In addition to the art, about 15 Native
American groups performed everything from traditional dances and songs
to contemporary country and western music. More than 1,500 people
attended the event over two days, said Edward Smiley, director of the
Farmington Intertribal Indian Center. The White Mountain Apache Crown
Dancers were from White River, Ariz. and were primarily members of the
White Mountain Apache Nation. There were six crown dancers that
transformed the sidewalk into a stage, while spectators sat under trees
and on the grass. The Apache Crown Dance isn't necessarily a "rain
dance" per say, but the dance has healing qualities, said Joe Tohonnie
Jr., the group's leader.
<http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_4087307#> Brandon Wright, 14, of
White River, Ariz., secures his crown to his head before he and the
other White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers perform at the 5th Annual
Indian Market and Festival on Sunday at Berg Park. (Lucas Coshenet/The
Daily Times) The dancers painted their bodies with black paint and
wore black masks. Each were adorned with crowns that were made from cut
pieces of wood. "I'm keeping my tradition alive (by dancing)," said
Harrison Watts, 18, of White River, Ariz., one of the dancers. He said
while he dances, he prays and thinks about his family. Particularly, he
thinks about his cousin that has been in a coma for over a year. "I
give my blessings to her," he said. Tohonnie, who sang for the dancers,
said he has been singing since he was six years old and was self taught
when it came to learning the songs. He said that his singing ability
was a gift that he contributes to his Apache grandfather, who was a
medicine man. "They always, always, always put on a good show," said Jo
Lieba-Jack, 35, of Shiprock. She said she was at the festival both days
and enjoyed all the performers who shared their singing and dancing.
"It's awesome," she said. The singing and dancing was just one aspect
of the weekend, Smiley said. "The main promotion of the show was for
the arts and crafts vendors. It's kind of hard for them to sell on a
daily basis," he said. Gloria Cooeyate, a Cochiti Pueblo, came to the
fair and said the business was "good" this past weekend. So good that
she plans on returning next year and plans to recommend the fair to
other Native American artisans. Her and her husband, Marcus Chalam,
sold drums and jewelry and expressed their appreciation for the
organizers. Chalam said he liked the different tribal ethnicities of
the performers. Some of the performances included an Eagle Dance by
dancers and singers from Laguna, some dances from Zuni, a teen hoop
dancer, a short gourd dance session, Native American Music Award winner
Radmilla Cody, Lil' Dre, Desert Sun and others. Smiley said next year
he hopes to add other tribal dances to the mix of dancers. "Every year
there are different tribal dancers," he said. Nashio said he was happy
to share some an aspect of his Apache tradition to people. "I want to
show them what we got back at home," he said.