Highland High social powwow returns annual tradition to school
Newly crowned Miss PCSD #25 High School Queen and Highland senior
Cinncee Washakie, with Miss Sho-Ban Myke Moore on January 31.
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.
New Miss PCSD #25 High School Queen beaded crown created by Adele
Racehorse. The crown depicts each high school mascot in the school district.
Fort Hall Veterans Association carried in the flags during the grand entry.
Later in the afternoon graduating Pocatello Chubbuck School District 25 seniors were recognized where they received Pendleton stoles local artist Lisa Honena created. The Pocatello Chubbuck School District paid for the cost of the stoles, along with the banners for the queen contest.
Seniors present at the powwow were from Highland, Century, Pocatello and New Horizons include: Kota and Kruz Appenay; Thomas Broncho; Madlynne Mentz; Yesenia Santos; Aiden St. Clair; Tenaya Wadsworth; Cinncee Washakie; Katielynn Williams; Tyeson Colter and Jack Trujillo.
Highland social powwow head man and teen fancy feather dancer Keen Wilson.
Highland High School senior Cinncee Washakie was named the Miss PCSD 25 queen. She received a beaded crown Adele Racehorse created flowers and a banner. After her honor dance, her family members stood with her in front of the crowd and congratulated her. Judges included Taylor Akoneto and Marquette Bagley. Miss Shoshone-Bannock Malaina Moore assisted with crowning the new queen and also placing the stoles on the graduates.
With the help of Highland High School Native students, along with numerous sponsors, she believes the event was a good turnout, “it’s nice to have it back or at least start something and we have some money left on the club account if we do it next year – it will jump start that.” Whitehorse said they can have conversations if they want to do other categories at the next one.
Teen girl’s jingle dancer Tee’Arah Anderson.
In upwards of three months of planning, the club was able to raise $1,300. The Fort Hall Business Council made a financial contribution. Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Enterprises gave water, apples and oranges that was given to elders and adults.
Whitehorse said it’s made a difference to have a student support person at the school as they’re happy to have representatives that can help represent the Native community. She’s thankful for the support from the school district especially Raina Patterson.
