Buffalo Lodge Round Dance brings back memories of past gatherings & teachings
Buffalo Lodge Round Dance on January 27.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Prayers for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Fort Hall community were said at the Buffalo Lodge Round Dance January 27.
The event began with a potluck dinner and an abundance of food. Attendees were able to smudge prior to the start of the Round Dance.
Committee chairman Alfred Wahtomy said “Heavenly father would bless us in a good way so we could all enjoy our lives from here on out – be healthy for the little ones for the next generation.” He said cedar was put down for the singers too.
Gifferd Osborne said “This place right here, a lot of prayers been in here, it’s good to be back here dancing, singing, laughing, joking with each other. Some of the people that used to be here are gone now.”
He said he learned from his parents and he’s present to support the people, “”Our togetherness, our prayers, that’s all we got.” The building is round – he said the singers would sing to the east, then to the south, then sing to the west, then to the north, “just keep going like that, respect for our four directions.” Gifferd said that’s the way he used to see it, the way we need to show our younger kids, keep it going. “So many things brought here from other tribes, younger people see it and think that’s the way it supposed to be done. We are Shoshone this is how we do it here,” he continued. “I’m not getting after nobody – it’s what I used to see growing up. With that have good time tonight.”
Winston Bearing Sr., Dontay Scott, Chasen and Kylen sing at the Round Dance.
He noted this year’s been starting off good so far. Last year there were many funerals. “Trying to get out of this sickness and this is how we do it right here. We gather in places like this, sing and dance, the spirits used to be here and they are with us — how we start feeling good, about life, good to see everybody here tonight.” Gifferd recalled during the holiday time our people used to dance as our people used to all be here singing and dancing.
LaGrand Coby said the food was good, “Long time ago I remember my grampa, Nanie Chedehop, they all sang, they all sang our way.” We always do to the four directions and he recalled he saw it at the different lodges. He remembered because he went with his grampa and there were a lot of good singers that have since passed on. He told the boys to sing four songs right here, in the four directions.
LaGrand said round dances are a blessing to our people, just the way the Crees did. He encouraged the singers to remember the older songs.
After singing to the four different directions, the singers came to the center and sang around the circle.
