The Iron Family Singers and Dancers performed on November 20, 2024, in the Auditorium at Rocky Mountain High School to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Organized by Rocky’s Diversity equity and inclusion coach Mr. Jason Powell, the family danced to seven songs and sang an additional three.
The matriarch of the family spoke about how song and dance are important to Native Americans all over the continent, highlighting the connection between the land and dance and bringing up how traditions were different among different tribes and between Northern and Southern peoples.
The first song was what they called a flag song, describing it as a national anthem different between each tribe. There was no dancing, only the drum and singers.
The second and third song was danced to by three women and was called a straight song. The second was a round dance. The difference between the songs was the rhythm of the drum. Much like genres, there are many types of music people dance to.
The fourth and fifth dances were a straight song and a round song as well.
Students thought the dresses were very ornate and interesting.
“The jingle dress was my favorite,” a senior Rocky student said.
The sixth and seventh songs were two Prairie Chicken Dances.
“My favorite dance was probably the chicken dancer. That was really cool,” Owen Perry, 11th, said.
The differences in the dresses each person was wearing were detailed and described by the speaker and focused on the differences in each design.
Harmony was wearing a tea dress with traditional Crow patterns while another dancer wore a 2-piece dress. Others wore ribbon skirts–traditionally worn by young women, while Amaya wore a Jingle Dress that she made herself, as she is a seamstress (as well as a model). Misty Rose wore a traditional prairie chicken dance outfit.
“It was really cool to see all of the different cultures between the tribes. I was interested to hear about the Dena’ina because that’s the tribe that my family originates from–when you go way, way, way back! I think my great-great-great grandma,” freshman Jasmin Graham said.
Students clapped and encouraged the dancers as they performed. This was one of many presentations Jason Powell, Rocky’s Diversity equity and inclusion coach, has organized for the student body. He regularly highlights various diversity months so that students can learn more about various cultures and practices.
Mr. Powell gave a sneak peak into the upcoming presentations for 2025: January is National Human Trafficking and Slavery Awareness month so Cultural Arms will be setting up displays in the Media Center focusing on survivors and people who were lost to trafficking and slavery. They will also have a list of red flags for students to know what to look for. February is Black History month and they are planning to do something at a home basketball game.
