PERSPECTIVE

Our World: Day of Culture, Camaraderie

Alex Driehaus
Naples
Left: Native Pride Dancer Arlan Whitebreast, from the Meskwaki tribe in Iowa, waits outside the tent before demonstrating a grass dance during the 21st annual American Indian Arts Celebration on Friday, November 2, 2018, on the grounds of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. Center: Native Pride Dancer Larry Yazzie, from the Meskwaki tribe in Iowa, poses for a portrait. Yazzie was inspired to start dancing when he was seven after watching the dancers at the annual Meskwaki powwow, and now he travels all around the world to demonstrate his culture. "If the kids are watching you they learn, they learn by observing," he said. "If you look around you see this beautiful culture around here, why throw all that away when we can preserve it for our children, the kids can watch and keep it going." Right: Seminole rainmaker Bobby Henry poses for a portrait. Henry says that when non-indigenous people come to Florida they often forget about the Seminole people, and he hopes that the school children that come and hear him talk about the culture will go home and share that with their families.

The American Indian Arts Celebration, hosted by the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum every year in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, is an opportunity both to learn about Native American cultures, and for Indigenous people to show pride in preserving their heritage. 

Throughout the day school children shrieked with excitement as they learned traditional dances, and with anxiety as they watched Billy Walker wrestle an alligator. Larry Yazzie, a Native Pride Dancer, made sure to emphasize that the day was a cultural demonstration and not like a circus performance, and asked the group after taking the stage, "No one here dressed up as an Indian for Halloween, right?"

From left to right, Dylanie Henry, Annie Washington, 10 months, Ruby Thomas, Joanie Henry, Moses Thomas, 8 months, Danelle Thomas, and Moses Thomas, 3, spend time together in their vendor booth where they sell beadwork and skirts during the 21st annual American Indian Arts Celebration on Friday, November 2, 2018, on the grounds of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. Dylanie Henry has been participating in cultural events as far back as she can remember, and now she is excited to share that experience with her daughter. "It makes it special," she said.
Billy Walker wrestles an alligator during the 21st annual American Indian Arts Celebration on Friday, November 2, 2018, on the grounds of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. The Seminole people hunted alligators as a food source and for their hides, and the practice eventually became another source of income when tourists began paying to watch alligator wrestling. Walker's grandfather wrestled alligators, and he says he continues the tradition to hold on to his roots, "I'm proud of who I am and I like to let people know that we're still here, we'll always be here, part of Florida."
Native Pride Dancer Arlan Whitebreast, from the Meskwaki tribe in Iowa, demonstrates a grass dance during the 21st annual American Indian Arts Celebration on Friday, November 2, 2018, on the grounds of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.
Native Pride Dancer Larry Yazzie, from the Meskwaki tribe in Iowa, demonstrates an eagle dance during the 21st annual American Indian Arts Celebration on Friday, November 2, 2018, on the grounds of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.