Everything Under The Sun: Annual Round Dance Preserves Native Traditions

Friday, February 5, 2016

Annual Round Dance Preserves Native Traditions

The most recent event occurred in 2014.

Cultural activities and events help individuals of various backgrounds maintain connections with their origins, their ethnic groups, their cultural heritage. It helps individuals establish their identities, within the larger communities of State and Country.

That's true even for the original peoples of the area governed by the United States, the tribal groups who first settled these lands. Martin Montgomery, a member of the WASHOE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA; Brandi Sargent; and the Red Hoop Singers brought back the tradition of community dance to Gardnerville, Nevada.

Called the RED HOOP ROUND DANCE, it is an alcohol- and drug-free gathering of community members both within, and outside of, the tribal community in the spirit of song and dance. Usually held during the winter months, it represents a tradition thousands of years old. It is an organized way to bring people together to socialize, visit, sing and dance, and just celebrate life. Instead of barriers between tribes, or an us/them mentality, it breaks down barriers and provides a place to meet, a shared space for more than 3,000 native tribal members from both Canada and the US, along with other interested visitors.

It is because Martin has the inner strength to create this common ground and also the experience to organize community activities that the Red Hoop Round Dance can even take place. He discussed his inspiration, "We are dancing to celebrate our life; and appreciation of all that you have is a great way to pay homage to our creator and those who came before us."

It wasn't just singing and dancing which was part of the Red Hoop Round Dance in previous years. Visitors and participants could purchase raffle tickets for various prizes, various vendors brought goods to sell, and contributions could be made to nonprofits, who served the community. During the rest of the year, there were fundraisers to provide the monetary means to hold this celebratory gathering.

Red Hoop Round Dance gathers members of the community, with joy on their faces.

For six years in a row, the Red Hoop Round Dance was celebrated. But in 2015, there were not enough funds to hold this gathering. However, the sponsors and organizers were still hoping to have this festive celebration in March of this year.