[Goodpasture]

Are you dancing?

Kiowa Gourd Clan Ceremonial on Fourth of July held in Carnegie, Oklahoma each year. Although this is a time of celebration of independence Day for the United States of America, it must be remembered that the Kiowa's celebrated this annual affair long before there was a United States of America. The Kiowa's held their 'Sun Dance' in the middle of Summer during the longest and hottest days of the year which comes around the Fourth of July. Since this is a holiday and most members work, this holiday was selected as the time to hold the annual Kiowa Gourd Clan celebration.

The Kiowa are considered the originators of a style of dance known as Gourd Dancing.

The present day Kiowa Gourd Clan celebration comes at the time of the Sun Dance. This organization, known and called by its Kiowa name "Tdiepeigah," has a membership of approximately 300 select men, made up of civil servants, doctors, educators and even a Pulitzer-prize winning author.
Preparations for the annual celebration begin in the spring of each year with fundraising benefit dances and culminate with the colorful pageantry of the Fourth of July held in Carnegie, Oklahoma each year. Although this is the same time as the celebration of Independence Day for the United States, it should be noted that the Kiowas celebrated this annual affair long before the formation of the United States of America. The Kiowas held their Sun Dance in the middle of summer during the longest and hottest day of the year which comes around the Fourth of July.


The history of the gourd dancers has been handed down by word of mouth; therefore, sequences may be reversed, relationship distorted, memories fade, but the Kiowa Gourd Clan tries to remain as traditional as possible.
The society of men was made up of camp police, hard riders and fighters, and members were selected by affluent respectable families. Appointment for lifetime leadership was made by the wise elders, priests and keepers of the sacred religion of the Kiowas. The leadership continues until voluntary retirement or death or for non performance of duties.


When the Sun Dances were banned by the Federal government, the society still continued having dances every summer until the late 1930s, when the tradition almost disappeared.


Around 1955, as a special presentation at the American Indian Exposition in Anadarko, Oklahoma, the Kiowa director, Fred Tsoodle (Tanedooah descendent), gathered together Clyde Ahtape, Harry Hall Zotigh, Fred Botone, Oliver Tanedooah and Abel Big Bow who were in Kiowa Gourd Dance dress and singers Bill Koomsa and William Tanedooah who knew and remembered the dance songs of the gourd dancers. This presentation brought back memories of the Kiowa heritage, particularly for the elder Kiowas.


This was the first spark in the revival of gourd dancing. But it was almost two years before the Kiowa Gourd Dance Clan was formally organized on January 30, 1957 at the home of Taft Hainta (Tanedooah descendent).
The purpose and function of this organization was to perpetuate the Kiowa heritage and revive the Kiowa dance. At this time, an English name was voted on (Kiowa Gourd Dance Clan) as it would officially become known throughout the entire Indian country.


Present day officers are dedicated to their positions, to carry on traditions, ceremonial dances, songs and history of the Kiowa tribe. There are other gourd dance organizations that have branched off from the original clan and the dance itself has spread to other tribes over the continent, but only the Kiowas look upon with feelings of deep reverence for "This is our dance, our songs, our heritage, and a sacred part of our Kiowa culture."

Kiowa Tribal Information

I looked for a youtube of the Kiowa or Comanche gourd dance, but only found some for the Delaware, Kickapoo and Cherokee. RSU Public TV had a good discussion on it today, and it was truly a warriors dance.......more like the war dance of the Cherokee or Lakota, and less like the gourd dances of other nations.

[Annemieke Roell]

Too bad it is a 4 hour drive from here. I would love to see that ......

[_redbird_]

Yes I did. Here it is.



I am in here somewhere. I feel at home here. It is a ceremonial dance, and very cool. There are actually 2 different Kiowa Gourd Dances going on at the same time at that time. My family goes to the one in Carnegie.



When they line up like this pictured below, it means someone is being honored.



Here I am on the far left in the white shirt. (I am the big Indian guy with long hair. )


Here is some of the music and the story behind the Gourd Dance.

http://www.wisdomoftheelders.org/prog1/mp3/p01_tr.mp3

[EarthBound?]

Redbird,

When you say that they are lined up in a certain way this means that someone is being "Honored", for what are they being honored for? I mean, is it for special time and effort they they may have given for teaching or the time they give to help the community? And, have you ever been Honored in this manner yourself?

Oh, by the way. That picture isn't a very good one of you , Bjb123 and I want to see the face of the famous Oklahoma Thread "Redbird" .

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

When they line up like this pictured below, it means someone is being honored.

I've heard of this honoring system. The honoree is allowed to run down between the lines of the warriors and elders while they celebrate by patting him on the back with sticks and whips, right?

[_redbird_]

haha. and a few pinches on the buttocks. Not really. Most of them are vets, I am sure you would be missing a few teef if you swatted anyone on the rear. We don't play that.

[_redbird_]

Well, this is a time when people come home from all over the U.S. There are some men in the picture above who are very well respected, and some are keepers of traditional arts, crafts, and songs. Usually the ones being honored are Elders. When we say Elders, we mean someone who has great respect, and not simply someone who is old. I am not in their league by any means.

In the middle picture the two in the center are professors from Haskell Indian Nations University.

To honor someone, just means you want to publicly acknowledge someone who has done a lot for you or for your family, or the community.

A lot of times a person being honored will have a "give-away."

If you want a picture of me,

and

Originally Posted by SeabeeBolt

Redbird,

When you say that they are lined up in a certain way this means that someone is being "Honored", for what are they being honored for? I mean, is it for special time and effort they they may have given for teaching or the time they give to help the community? And, have you ever been Honored in this manner yourself?

Oh, by the way. That picture isn't a very good one of you , Bjb123 and I want to see the face of the famous Oklahoma Thread "Redbird" .

[peggydavis]

He doesn't look anything like that.

[_redbird_]

The stomach part does.

[EarthBound?]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

The stomach part does.

But not the Bald head?