My Native Ancestors

The Pow Wow today got me thinking. I've been interested in investigating further my Native American heritage. I have Navajo on one side and Cherokee on the other. There is a part in me that longs to know more about this native place I come from and what that means to my life...now. I look around me and see African dance, Irish dance, Ballet from France, Hip Hop, Modern from the U.S. One thing I do not see is Native American dance. On a level I understand why this is, and I also want to tap into that part of my DNA, into the blood and energy of it from this land we stand on in this country.
I've pondered this before, while reigniting my passion for dance. It just felt natural to reach out to my native heritage and grasp something in my blood. I feel in doing so, I can bring to life something almost dead in me and my line, while bringing it to life in others. Watching the feathers fly, the bells chime and the headdresses sway to the drums and chanting, opened the door of wonder once more. It was exhilarating and inspiring.
How can I bring this fire of heritage to the dance floor in an authentic way that gives the Native American movement and energy it's place and to tap into the beauty and ancient ones while honoring it all. This is one of my quests. I am truly inspired by my grandmothers and their line of native lives and understanding. I yearn to understand more and to dip my cup into that vast well of wisdom.
Today while taking photos of the people dancing at the Pow Wow, I asked their names and where they are from. WA, Duck Valley in the Owyhees, Salt Lake and Oregon. I found it easy to converse with them all, even though I felt like an intruder of some kind and when approaching any native I always feel a sense of inferiority, a strange phenomenon on my part. All were kind and chatty. We talked about all kinds of things from birthdays coming up, to the competition, to gambling. I was asked by the grandmother of Millie, the young 16 year old from White Swan, WA if I'd like to come to one of their Pow Wow's. Absolutely. I am honored.
So, looks like in September this year I'll be camping out at the Beautiful White Swan reservation. It will be a wonderful opportunity to take a deeper look at this native question and bring some of that energy to my life. It is my wish and quest to grab a hold of that line in my being and bring an understanding to it in any capacity and than to spread it out into my practice and on the dance floor. This fascinates me to the bone and I'm thrilled to take a step closer to where I come from and what lies dormant in my genes. Who knew, Taco Bell Arena Pow Wow to native ceremony? Life is grand, don't you think?