Traditional Clothing Show features 37 dresses
Bernita Teton models a beaded buckskin dress.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — In an effort to have local families bring out heirloom dresses, a Traditional Clothing Show was hosted during the Appreciate Shoshone-Bannock Women event March 18 at the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel.
There was a total of 37 dresses women and girls wore to showcase the work. Anna Bowers coordinated the event with the assistance of Kimberly Dixey and Dustina Abrahamson who served as the emcee.
“This was an Honor to tell my late mother Adeline Eldean George’s story of the order of dresses and she was right when she shared with me as a young girl that each dress has a story of how and why the dress was made,” she said. “I want to thank Dustina Abrahamson for being an awesome Moderator she really brought the descriptions provided to life and Kimberly Dixey who organized the models line up, they made everything run smoothly.”
She said when the show began all the models of various ages showed so much pride wearing their personal dresses or their family’s regalia. “I think we all were hesitant to participate but with the planning it was a success over all, she continued. “I hope everyone who attended was inspired by my mother’s words to not to wait a life time to dance.”
There were five in the work dress category – Charlene Wahtomy made her own work dress as she carried a hide she was working on. Honey Teton, 5, wore a dress her grandmother Velma Wahtomy made. Anna Matsaw, 8, and Malia Matsaw both wore wing dresses their mother Jessica created as they walked together in the show. Velma Wahtomy made her own work dress and also had a Bluebird flour apron on.
Five participants wore wing dresses – Louida Ingawanup, 90, made her own dress. Velda Racehorse, Susan Avila Dixey, Louise E. Dixey all wore wing dresses Lee Ann Dixey Avila created. She also wore one of her own creations.
Monique Diaz wore a bugle bead dress Wendy Farmer created that was inspired by a portrait of the late Minnie Camas-Willie.
Five were in the shell dress category – Starlynn Osborne, 11, wore a shell dress Wendy Farmer made – the dress is nine years old. Taylor Haskett wore a dress her sister Mia created. Belma Colter, the first Miss Shoshone-Bannock wore a green shell dress she created. Abalone Rose Wynne, 10, modeled a maroon dress her grandmother Bonnie Wadsworth made.
Three women wore elk tooth dresses. Carolyn Boyer-Smith created the gray and maroon imitation elk tooth dress Gwyn Towersap wore. Lori Edmo wore a royal blue imitation elk tooth dress the late Audrey Gould created. The inspiration for it was a photo of the late Peahbah Having Hooves Diggie. Bowers wore a dress she created four years ago with 150 real elk ivories. It was inspired by her late mother’s dress.
Velda Racehorse models a wing dress.
Buckskin dresses were a highlight with 18. The oldest dress is one the late Hattie Honena Ariwite created that Leona Ariwite Taylor is in possession of. Leela Abrahamson displayed it for her. Ashley Miller modeled a dress the late Esther Teton Ingawanup made 80+ years ago. Lozen Osborne, 11, wore a buckskin dress with bugle beads on it the late Jesse Sequints-Osborne made 79 years ago that is considered a family heirloom.
Six participants modeled buckskin dresses the late Juanita Dann Teton created including Randy’L Teton that has a meadowlark beaded on it. Sandy Navo wore a dress Juanita created for Julie Teton. Sandra Damon wore a dress Juanita made with Wilma Teton Dixey 12 years ago. Jaedynn Lopez, 11, wore a dress Juanita created 38+ years ago for a granddaughter. Bernita Teton wore a fully beaded outfit she created 40+ years ago intended for her daughters, granddaughters and future generations. Five-year-old Tanicia Gould wore a buckskin dress Juanita made 32 years ago. She held her father Frankie Gould’s hand as she smiled to those watching.
Three wore the late Venus Mitchell’s dresses – Juanita Rodriguez wore a dress made 60 years ago. Jarodi Haze Kniffin, 10 months old, wore Kimberly Dixey’s dress. Sara Ann Thompson wore a dress Venus created 80 years ago.
Carolyn Boyer-Smith wore a geometric design dress she helped her late mother Merceline Bel Boyer complete that her mother Josephine Pokibro started. It was finished over 50 years ago.
Taylor Haskett models a shell dress.
Kierra Stacey modeled a dress the late Truma Davis made 30 years ago. Adelyn Sophia Lopez, 2, wore a dress the late Eva Buck made while Charlee Siow wore a wing dress Kimberly Dixey made.
Kari Fisher Merrill wore a buckskin dress the late Lucille Pocatello made 45 years ago that is a Waterhouse family heirloom. Kari’s daughter Tia Worley, 10, modeled a dress the late Alfreda Punkin Waterhouse made 51 years ago. The dress was provided by the Waterhouse family.
Miss Shoshone-Bannock Kaycee Dixey wore a dress her grandmother Louise E. Dixey created 30 years ago that was made for Lizzie Boyd.
