Sho-Ban singers, dancers ring in new year at annual Warbonnet Dance
Men dancers during a prayer at the annual New Year’s Eve Warbonnet Dance on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
By BREE BAKER
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The Annual New Years Eve Warbonnet Dance was on December 31, 2024 at Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School where fresh air was breathed into 24 warbonnets and prayers were said for Mother Earth for renewal and growth.
Warbonnet dance leaders were Gifferd Osborne and his sister Kimberly Nummie Osborne. Along with the Warbonnet Dance, 49 songs were sung, and inter-tribals and round-dances were danced. After the Warbonnet Dance, attendees round-danced into the New Year.
49 singers at the Warbonnet Dance.
The activities started at 6 p.m. with a feast. Afterwards everyone gathered in the Blaine Dixey Gymnasium and waited for the evenings events to begin. The emcee for most of the event was LaGrand Coby, he introduced his son Chasen, who said the prayer and smudge during the Warbonnet Dance. Then he introduced the drum groups for the night which were Spring Creek and Bad Canyon, who sang throughout the evening.
Coby told those in attendance to shake hands and tell them happy New Year. As he spoke Gifferd Osborne went around and smudge everyone in attendance. Coby spoke briefly about the Warbonnet Dance, the 49’s, and the other dances. He said, “a lot of our elders have passed on, but we know they are watching us, they are looking over us, helping us” and spoke on the next generation doing the ceremonies.
Warbonnet Dance leaders Gifferd Osborne and Kimberly Nummie Osborne.
Before the 49’s were sung various members of the community went up and spoke, Darrell Tendoy talked about the importance of prayer and being Native American then Miss Shoshone-Bannock Dystnee Rope welcomed everyone. Louise Dixey spoke on the importance of culture and knowing who you are and where you come from and encouraged everyone to “use your language.” Lou Osborne spoke on the importance of ceremony and how it is up to the younger generations to keep the traditions going. She thanked everyone for coming and said “I want you all to have fun, let’s sing and dance. Let’s bring in the New Year with good feelings.”
Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Lee Juan Tendoy said, “We are a strong people” and spoke on the importance of ceremony and having patience when it comes to those teachings. Then Taya Osborne shared a few words and thanked everyone for coming. After everyone spoke, the singers and back-up singers went around the gymnasium and sang 49 songs.
FHBC Chairman Lee Juan Tendoy speaks.
After the singing of the 49’s, participants danced inter-tribals and round dances. A birthday round dance was sung for Josh Neaman, everyone came out and danced to celebrate and wish him a happy birthday.
After the inter-tribals and round dances, the three ceremonial dances were danced — the Shake Dance, Buffalo Dance, and Chokecherry Dance. There were 8 young men who participated in the dances, chokecherry dancers were Gifferd Osborne, James Glenn Osborne, Cailan Dann, and Leo Eagle Speaker.
Women dancers don warbonnets at the New Year’s Eve celebration.
The Warbonnet Dance was next, where 24 warbonnets were brought out by the families. The dancers and bonnets were smudged before the dance began. The men dancers lined up and put on the bonnets, Gifferd Osborne led the men as they danced around the circle. After they went around, they placed the bonnets on the women dancers. Kimberly Nummie Osborne led the women in as they danced around the circle. When the Warbonnet Dance was finished Gifferd thanked everyone for attending and for bringing the warbonnets out. He shared some of these bonnets are over 100 years old.
Women backup singers including tribal elder Zelphia Towersap (center)
and Gwyn Towersap (right).
A blanket dance was conducted for the out of state visitors, the visitors shared a few words with those in attendance and wished the families good blessings. The night went on as those who remained stayed and round-danced into the New Year.
Warbonnets on display at the New Year’s Eve dance.
