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Highland High social powwow returns annual tradition to school
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Jennie Whitehorse, Highland High School Native Club advisor, believes having a social powwow at the school January 31 was a good start considering there hadn’t been one for a couple of years.
The powwow included scavenger hunts, cake walks, intertribal dancing, a potato dance and an Owl Dance Special in recognition of head student dancers Keen Wilson and Cinncee Washakie. Kelston Buckskin and his daughter Alexa Buckskin won first in the contest. Tiny tots were also given bags of candy.
Matt Wilson served as emcee, Leo Eagle Speaker was arena director and Medicine Thunder served as host drum. Drum groups Ghost Canyon and Spring Creek were also in attendance. (cont.)
In other news...
FORT HALL — Family and friends of Shoshone-Bannock tribal member Arlene Ortiz have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help support after she received a kidney transplant and is in need of funds for her stay in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Any assistance is appreciated.
Arlene lives in Fort Hall and has limited resources. She is reaching out to share her story during a pivotal time in her life.
On January 25, she received a kidney transplant after waiting 11 years on dialysis. The transplant happened very quickly, and while she is incredibly grateful for the life-changing opportunity, it has been quite overwhelming to process everything so suddenly.
Last year, 2025, was especially difficult, as she lost both of her daughters. “my youngest in April and my oldest daughter in August, just four months apart. They were my supporters driving me to and from dialysis and everything else,” she said. (cont.)
ELKO, Nev. — Traditional Chief Phillip Whiteman Jr. (Northern Cheyenne) invited Kaycee Dixey, Susan Avila-Dixey (both Sho-Ban), and James Shoshone (Owyhee, Nev.) to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev. to share circle dance songs, a brief history of the horse and how it helped the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Paiute people.
Chief Phillip had one hour to present the history of the horse and the importance of the horse to indigenous people followed by songs by Kaycee and Susan. He gave 25 minutes of his time to Kaycee/Susan and James Shoshone who talked about his business, the Buckaroo art, along with the horsemanship Buckaroo regalia. (cont.)
By YVONNE WARJACK
Sho-Ban News
BLACKFOOT — Downtown Blackfoot welcomed new energy on January 31, as Spiffy’z Outpost officially reopened at 54 W. Pacific St.
The Native-owned consignment and creations store, co-led by Armena Fred and Sarah Broncho, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, vendor displays, and strong community turnout. (cont.)
