Comanche Youth Dancers Host Powwow
Comanche Nation Youth Dancers held a powwow on Saturday, August 2, at Watchetaker Hall.
Youth Dancers Coordinator Teresa Lopez said they begin with children of all skill levels, choose their style and learn from there.
“Well, if they come to one of our events that we have, we do on Wednesdays; we have drum, we have singing, we have dancing,” she said. “And if they want to learn, I have the older girls who are mentors who help them and will show them how. Because if I showed them, they'll be all out of step.”
One of the older youth dancers is Comanche Little Ponies Princess Arlene Schonchin, who has been dancing with the group since she was four. Schonchin said she’s grateful Lopez got to watch her grow up.
She said it’s important to give back to the community through a powwow.
“Because the community helped us so much with traveling expenses and…just being here. So, just coming and giving back to our community and having them dance with us,” Schonchin said. “And then I think it's good because not many youths really dance that much. And so, us having a powwow may let other youths be like, ‘Hey, there's kids that actually dance, and it's okay for you to come into the arena and dance with us.’”
Lopez said the organization is not to perform or entertain but educate.
“We're educators to educate the community about our culture, what we wear, how we dance, what our songs are for, what dance that we do,” she said. “And I think it's important that the youth dancers educate the community, and wherever we go, we're called educators. When we go into the schools, we're educating them about our culture, our dance, our regalia.”
Lopez said it’s important for the youth to know about their regalia.
“It's like what one of our singers, Victor, when we were going to the singing session, he said, ‘When I sing a song, I want you to know the meaning of it.’ He said to know what you're dancing to. He said, ‘Because you just don't get out there and just dance, you want to know the meaning of the song. You want to know whose song it is,’” she said. “And when the students, our youth group, wear their regalia, it's important that they, to them, to show, ‘This is my buckskin, this is my Comanche dress, this is my Kiowa dress,’ and that they can showcase...what tribe they're from and how they wear their regalia.”
Lopez said she’s proud of the youth dancers when they dance.
“We're humble,” she said. “We don't have a lot of glitz and glitter. And I can tell when these kids get out here, I always tell them, ‘It's in your heart. You have to have it in your heart, and you listen to that drum, and you follow that drum.’ And they do that, and they do so great, and I'm just so proud of every one of them out there; how they get up and dance. And I don't see them being shy. It also, when they do, it promotes positive self-esteem for them, and I do not see any of them holding their head down, because they know I will tell them, ‘Heads up.’”
Linette Chibitty is one of the original youth dancers, beginning when she was about 5 or 6 years old.
“I vaguely remember, because I was so little. But I remember we were in the mall, we were in front of Dillard's, and I honestly can't remember who else was there, but I do remember I was dancing, I believe I was in cloth…” she said. “I remember there's a few of us that were dancing, but...I remember the little tile…and everything like that.”
Now, Chibitty helps run the organization with Lopez.
“It's like a full circle. It's like seeing my generation, and people who were the original youth dancers, their children coming in, and now starting to see their grandchildren come in,” she said. “So, some of the dancers that I danced with when I was growing up and younger, we actually are starting to see them come up. And see their children starting to show interest in allowing their grandchildren, the people that I'm with, my generation, come in and be a part of our group. So, it's really interesting, and it's nice to see that, to see the impact.”
Chibitty has three daughters in the youth dancers.
“And the oldest daughter, she's starting to become involved, and she's going to start helping assist Miss Teresa as well,” she said. “She just recently volunteered her time to help with Native Sign Language, so it's nice to see that. To see that my family continues on helping and outpouring to our Native community as well.”
Chibitty said she wants her children to follow the tradition and find identity.
“I tell my girls that, ‘Being a part of this is a part of who we are, and when you become an adult and things happen in life,’” she said. “Sometimes it's a roller coaster…there's plenty of ups and downs when you're an adult, and coming back to this, it's very heartwarming...it's hearing them sing, it touches you in the heart…and it's a feeling I can't put into words. And so, I encourage them to keep it up and keep going, and that they will always have a home here within…the powwow world, and within our Native community, and it's a feeling of home, and I would love for them to continue that on and feel that and have that for the rest of their lives. So, I try to instill that seed in them...make it a way of life for them.”
Chibitty said it’s a great way to build friendships.
At the powwow, Morgan Tosee donated his shield to the youth dancers.
Royalty at the event included: Comanche Nation Princess Isabela Rameriez, Walter’s Service Club Princess Reyna Serna, IMNDN Princess Kimberlyn Gwoompi, Indiahoma Native American Club Princess Tiana McClung, Jr. Princess Charli Marlene Zollarz and Tiny Tot Princess Johnny Shae Romo.
