Kootenai Tribal Dancers
<p>Tawnie Cullooyah a Kootenai Tribal dancer, who is called a jingle dancer, for the bells that jing-a-ling along with her story.</p>
Valley View Elementary and Boundary County Middle School students, parents and teachers received a performance given by the Kootenai Tribal Dancers, drum beats of Iron Horse, and the storytelling of renowned storyteller, counselor, trainer and healer Gene Tagaban.
Tagaban from the T’akdeintaan Clan and the Raven Freshwater Sockeye Clan from Hoonah, Alaska.
From a young age Tagaban knew he was a story teller. His grandfather spoke to him and said all people are storytellers. He told the crowd of at the assembly at Valley View that they are also story tellers.
“Life is a story,” Tagaban said. “What kind of story do you want to tell with your life? Your life is a story, so tell a good story.”
One of the ways the Kootenai Tribe culture tells a story is through dance. The Kootenai Tribal Dancers told stories through beautiful dances in sacred regalia.
Regalia is considered sacred for its history. It is indicative of the dancers own story, their history. Some of the items used in making the regalia is passed down from family members, also telling their story.
Some of the regalia is beaded beautifully and is called traditional regalia. Some have bells which are the jingle dancers and some have feathers on them and these are the fancy dancers.
The beautiful regalia attracted the eyes of everyone in attendance as Tagaban mesmerized the crowd with his story about a rabbit, that will not be soon forgotten.
After the story was finished Tagaban introduced the Kootenai Tribal Dancers who are from tribes throughout the north west. The drum beats are loud and strong and can be felt in the heart. The Iron Horse Kootenai drummers began to play and the dancers started their spirited, beautiful dancing.
The students enjoyed this presentation and not a noise other than the drum beats and the jingle of a few bells could be heard as the children watched.
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho chairwoman, Jennifer Porter was also present. She explained how she can dance as well as her family including her children.
“Native American dancers are born with the ability to dance,” Porter explained.
The drum beats simulate the beating of the heart. When Kootenai Tribal dancers are born they recognize this drum beat as it symbolizes the beating of their mother’s heart. It is natural for them to celebrate life with a drum beat as they dance and tell their story.
A treat for all who attended. They were visually impressed by the beauty, the drum beats were positively charged and the stories left one with a good feeling and maybe even a life lesson.