In conjunction with National American Indian Heritage Month, Fort Stewart welcomed Voice in the Wind, a group of Native-American dancers, to perform Nov. 13 at Cottrell Field on post.
The group drew an audience of civilians and soldiers.
The ceremony opened with Billy Lacey thanking the crowd for “joining us for a celebration of diversity.”
“We’ve prepared a special program for you showcasing Native-American culture,” Lacey said.
The program was entitled “Honoring warriors past and present.”
Lacey explained how important warriors are in their culture and “how high a pedestal they’re put on.”
“Elders are the only group that is esteemed higher than warriors,” Lacey said.
A few dancers had to rotate out as drum players, but traditional drumbeats accompanied each of the five dances.
“The drum is the heartbeat of Mother Earth,” Lacey said. “Without it we can’t dance.”
The first two dances were the Lady’s Fancy Shawl and Woman’s Traditional performed by Sharon Partin and Georgena Haywahe.
It was noted the Lady’s Fancy Shawl is a “dance of transition” and “represents springtime.”
Between dances, Lacey provided a brief background about the American-Indian dress. He said only warriors wear the headdresses and have “earned every feather.”
The bells on the dancers’ shoes were a “modern thing.”
Lacey jokingly said the fan was “Indian air conditioning.”
Tony Lett performed the Gentlemen’s Dance. He said it began “when the government took our feathers away from us.”
He said the government did not allow Native Americans to have their feathers because the feathers were thought to be magic.
Lett noted the feathers have a spiritual meaning.
“That’s how we pray,” Lett said.
After Aaron Partin performed his dance, the crowd listened to his dress explanation.
The drag represents family and the flowers represent the tribe. The drag was used to “stake your ground.”
Bronson Haywahe performed the Grass Dance.
He said it was used to “flatten grass so people can move and set up teepees.”
Lacey said traditional dancers “never took a step backwards” because it was a “sign of weakness.”
“We introduce this style of dance to you because this is what people recognize,” Lacey said. “We want people to understand us.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the public was invited to walk through the simulated primitive encampment.
The group drew an audience of civilians and soldiers.
The ceremony opened with Billy Lacey thanking the crowd for “joining us for a celebration of diversity.”
“We’ve prepared a special program for you showcasing Native-American culture,” Lacey said.
The program was entitled “Honoring warriors past and present.”
Lacey explained how important warriors are in their culture and “how high a pedestal they’re put on.”
“Elders are the only group that is esteemed higher than warriors,” Lacey said.
A few dancers had to rotate out as drum players, but traditional drumbeats accompanied each of the five dances.
“The drum is the heartbeat of Mother Earth,” Lacey said. “Without it we can’t dance.”
The first two dances were the Lady’s Fancy Shawl and Woman’s Traditional performed by Sharon Partin and Georgena Haywahe.
It was noted the Lady’s Fancy Shawl is a “dance of transition” and “represents springtime.”
Between dances, Lacey provided a brief background about the American-Indian dress. He said only warriors wear the headdresses and have “earned every feather.”
The bells on the dancers’ shoes were a “modern thing.”
Lacey jokingly said the fan was “Indian air conditioning.”
Tony Lett performed the Gentlemen’s Dance. He said it began “when the government took our feathers away from us.”
He said the government did not allow Native Americans to have their feathers because the feathers were thought to be magic.
Lett noted the feathers have a spiritual meaning.
“That’s how we pray,” Lett said.
After Aaron Partin performed his dance, the crowd listened to his dress explanation.
The drag represents family and the flowers represent the tribe. The drag was used to “stake your ground.”
Bronson Haywahe performed the Grass Dance.
He said it was used to “flatten grass so people can move and set up teepees.”
Lacey said traditional dancers “never took a step backwards” because it was a “sign of weakness.”
“We introduce this style of dance to you because this is what people recognize,” Lacey said. “We want people to understand us.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the public was invited to walk through the simulated primitive encampment.