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Nearly 150 elders from three local tribes left Oklahoma Wednesday on their way to Tama, Iowa, to take part in the filming of a documentary about legendary Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his legacy, the Shawnee Dance.
Conrad Brown, the film’s creator, visited Oklahoma earlier in the year to ask several tribal members to participate in the 95th annual Meskwaki Indian Powwow Aug. 6-9, at the Meskwaki Nation Settlement in Iowa, where Brown would be filming for the documentary.
“He invited the tribes each individually,” Lena Clark, former Senior Sac and Fox Woman, said. “There’s 40 elders from Sac and Fox going on a charter bus there and 80 Kickapoos are going from Texas and Oklahoma and about 20 Creek from Oklahoma are going, too. The Absentee Shawnee Nation decided not to go.”
The experience is one that Clark said she and others are looking forward to with great enthusiasm and interest.
While there, Clark and others will participate in traditional powwow activities that include performing the Shawnee Dance, Clark said.
Tecumseh taught the dance to Sac and Fox and Kickapoo tribal members while traveling with them, Brown said in an article written by Arigon Starr, News From Indian Country staff writer.
“As a result of time, the dance has evolved into a social dance for the Sac and Fox,” Brown said in the article. “The Kickapoo retained the dance in its original form — a religious dance.”
For more information about the Meskwaki Nation Settlement, visit meskwaki.org.
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Johnna Ray may be reached at 214-3934.
Nearly 150 elders from three local tribes left Oklahoma Wednesday on their way to Tama, Iowa, to take part in the filming of a documentary about legendary Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his legacy, the Shawnee Dance.
Conrad Brown, the film’s creator, visited Oklahoma earlier in the year to ask several tribal members to participate in the 95th annual Meskwaki Indian Powwow Aug. 6-9, at the Meskwaki Nation Settlement in Iowa, where Brown would be filming for the documentary.
“He invited the tribes each individually,” Lena Clark, former Senior Sac and Fox Woman, said. “There’s 40 elders from Sac and Fox going on a charter bus there and 80 Kickapoos are going from Texas and Oklahoma and about 20 Creek from Oklahoma are going, too. The Absentee Shawnee Nation decided not to go.”
The experience is one that Clark said she and others are looking forward to with great enthusiasm and interest.
While there, Clark and others will participate in traditional powwow activities that include performing the Shawnee Dance, Clark said.
Tecumseh taught the dance to Sac and Fox and Kickapoo tribal members while traveling with them, Brown said in an article written by Arigon Starr, News From Indian Country staff writer.
“As a result of time, the dance has evolved into a social dance for the Sac and Fox,” Brown said in the article. “The Kickapoo retained the dance in its original form — a religious dance.”
For more information about the Meskwaki Nation Settlement, visit meskwaki.org.
———
Johnna Ray may be reached at 214-3934.
