Today’s Globe-trotting Travel Series (Day 12) is a thrilling digital collaboration and conglomeration of Native American hoop dancers from across the US and Canada. They dance against the virus, they dance for healing and protection, they dance to mourn and celebrate the dead and the living. Native Americans are dying at a higher rate than other ethnic groups, thanks in large part to poverty and lack of access to health care. Staying active, connected and empathetic are the weapons they have at their disposal. Prayer and dance are vehicles for this.
Three singers, thirty-seven hoop dancers and a wonderful speaker: this is a stunning video. From the full-throated, soul-searing vocals to the carefully choreographed movements, it brings up for me all the sorrow, hope, joy and rage of this time in which we live.
Video Edited by Eric Hernandez
Speaker Dennis Bowen Sr. Seneca Nation Bear Clan Allegany Seneca Territory
Singers Ryon Polequaptewa Hopi Steve LaRance Hopi Kenny Duncan San Carlos Apache
Hoop Dancers Ann Abeyta Eastern Shoshone/Isleta Pueblo Jackie Bird Mandan Hidatsa/ Arikara Cody Boettner Creek Josiah Enriquez Pojoaque Pueblo Celina Cada-Matasawagon Ojibway Erin Goedel Campbell Yakama/Tulalip/Lumbee Jerry First Charger Blood Vince Davis Hopi/Choctaw Kevin Duncan San Carlos Apache Sky Duncan San Carlos Apache /Mhahidasa Tony Duncan San Carlos Apache /Mhahidasa Violet Duncan Plains Cree Jonathan Dane Feather Cherokee/Lakota Terry L Goedel Yakama/Tulalip Michael Goedel Yakama/Tulalip/Lumbee Brian Hammill Hochunk Nedallas Hammill Dine’/Hochunk Eric Hernandez Lumbee Tomas Hunt Dine’ James Jones Tall cree First Nation Tara Goedel Kingi Yakama/Tulalip/Lumbee Shandien LaRance Hopi/ Tewa Nakota LaRance Hopi/ tewa Samuel Joe Losik Tulalip/Yakama Melia Losik Tualip/Yakama Lisa Odjig Odawa/Ojibwe Meredith Schramm Omaha Joseph Secody Dine’ Moontee Sinquah Hopi/ Tewa/ Choctaw Sampson Sinquah Gila River Pima/ Hopi/ Cherokee Scott Sinquah Gila River Pima/ Hopi/ Cherokee Ginger Sykes Torres Navajo Naakaii Tsosie Navajo Patrick Willie Navajo Dallas Arcand Yellowdirt Alexander First Nation Sandra Yellowhorn Blackfoot Rueben Zendejas Omaha