On August 10th, we held our annual meeting at the Worley Center at the Great Plains Technology Center. For entertainment we had the Spirit Eagle Dancers from Provo Utah, who performed traditional Native American dances and songs. Some were of the oldest dances in the northern and southern plains.
The leader of the group is Grant Williams. Grant is a member of the Comanche Tribe, and was born and raised in Comanche County. His wife, Arlene Nofchissey Williams was born on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona and has a long and distinguished career in the performing arts. Also performing was their daughter and son-in-law as well as their grandson, Mike. Mike has taken part in hoop dance competitions throughout the west and has won a number of awards and honors.
They had the SWOKHS Directors come to the front and presented us with a small amount of tobacco tied in a red cloth accompanied with a song. Grant explained that the pouch of tobacco is used as an offering for those that are held in high esteem, or as honoring (as in this case) the Elders in charge who brought them to share their culture and family talents. Tobacco is said to be the unifying thread of communication between humans and the spirits.
This all took place at the Great Plains Tech, 4500 SW Lee Blvd in Lawton in the Worley Center August 11 at 7 PM and it was ALL FREE. Lots of folks came early to visit with friends and neighbors that love the history of SW Oklahoma. We plan to do this again in 2018, so if you missed this one, be sure to come next year.
Our regular board meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 4:30 in the Public Library Board room. The meetings are open to all interested persons.
The leader of the group is Grant Williams. Grant is a member of the Comanche Tribe, and was born and raised in Comanche County. His wife, Arlene Nofchissey Williams was born on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona and has a long and distinguished career in the performing arts. Also performing was their daughter and son-in-law as well as their grandson, Mike. Mike has taken part in hoop dance competitions throughout the west and has won a number of awards and honors.
They had the SWOKHS Directors come to the front and presented us with a small amount of tobacco tied in a red cloth accompanied with a song. Grant explained that the pouch of tobacco is used as an offering for those that are held in high esteem, or as honoring (as in this case) the Elders in charge who brought them to share their culture and family talents. Tobacco is said to be the unifying thread of communication between humans and the spirits.
This all took place at the Great Plains Tech, 4500 SW Lee Blvd in Lawton in the Worley Center August 11 at 7 PM and it was ALL FREE. Lots of folks came early to visit with friends and neighbors that love the history of SW Oklahoma. We plan to do this again in 2018, so if you missed this one, be sure to come next year.
Our regular board meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 4:30 in the Public Library Board room. The meetings are open to all interested persons.
