Community gathers for annual Sho-Ban Early Childhood Social Powwow at Timbee Hall
Girls in the Hat & Boot Special at the ECP powwow on March 6.
By YVONNE WARJACK
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Families, dancers, and community members gathered at Timbee Hall March 6, for the Shoshone-Bannock Early Childhood Parent Committee “Tzi-Tzi’s Making Trail” Social Powwow.
Grand entry began with the Fort Hall Veteran’s Association Color Guard presenting the flags as dancers of all ages entered the area in regalia and formed a circle on the floor. The program included the flag song, victory song, and prayer, welcoming, as community members filled the hall and vendors set up throughout the building.
ECP royalty, from left: 2nd Attendant Ehlani Reyes, 1st Attendant Turquoise Rivera, ECP Princess
Ataiya Yokoyama, Mamie Buckskin and outgoing ECP Princess Humble Coby.
Spring Creek served as the host drum, with Chasen Coby was emcee and Michael Bahe was arena director.
Following grand entry, royalty in attendance and contestants in the Early Childhood Program (ECP) Royalty Contest were recognized before the announcement of the new ECP royalty. Ataiya Yokoyama is new ECP Princess and Zilo Jim was named the new ECP Brave. In the Princess category, Turquoise Rivera was named 1st Attendant and Ehlani Reyes was named 2nd Attendant, with Mamie Buckskin also recognized as a contestant. In the Brave category, Markoushio White Bear was named 1st Attendant and Trevor Perry was named 2nd Attendant, with Dallas Washakie and Crimson Palmer also recognized as contestants.
Throughout the evening, several specials honored youth and graduates connected to the Early Childhood Program. Royalty and graduate recognitions included specials for outgoing ECP Princess Humble Coby and outgoing ECP Brave Denver Yazzie, along with acknowledgements for ECP graduates Kenai Akoneto, Markoushio White Bear, Zilo Jim, and Shelby Buckskin. Miss Shoshone-Bannock Myke Moore hosted a special honoring all royalty in attendance with one song and a giveaway.
From left, newly crowned ECP Brave 1st Attendant Markoushio Whitebear and
new ECP Brave Zilo Jim.
Another highlight of the evening was the Hat and Boot Special hosted by outgoing ECP Princess Humble Coby. Tia Worley placed first, followed by Tanner Countryman in second and Taya Osborne in third. Kenai Corona placed fourth, Logan Wahtomy fifth, and Cody Jensen of Washington state sixth.
Hat & Boot Special winners at the ECP Powwow on March 6.
Two additional dance specials were led by members of the Early Childhood Program Class of 2026. The Potato Dance, led by graduate Markoushio White Bear, featured partners holding a potato between their foreheads while moving to the drum, with the pair remaining connected the longest declared the winner.
Later in the program, the Owl Dance was led by graduate Shelby Buckskin, bringing youth and dancers into the arena.
Additional activities throughout the powwow included intertribal dancing, cake walks, scavenger hunts, a youth hand drum contest for participants ages 17 and under, and committee specials recognizing the best war cry and best lullaby.
Winners of the Owl Dance Special: Jackie Nappo and Keno Coby.
The Early Childhood Parent Committee Social Powwow concluded later in the evening after a full program of dancing and specials that highlighted youth participation, community involvement, and the recognition of Early Childhood Program royalty and graduates.
