"I was nervous when we arrived at
the first powwow where I would
dance alone, even though my family
would be following behind me.
The powwow was packed! But right
before the first drumbeat sounded,
my youngest brother walked over
and whispered in my ear,
"Dance hard." "
Ria Thundercloud is a professional Indigenous dancer. In this autobiography, she explains that her journey to performance began with an orange jingle dress gifted to her when she was only four years old. Her cultural heritage is the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin and the Sandia Pueblo in New Mexico. Though they are very different, both nations honor dance.
Ria learned from her mother that the jingle dress was a healing dress, and by dancing in it Ria was sending blessings to all who watched her. Dancing in that dress resulted in her being a part of the powwow circle. With her brothers she began a summer life that took them from one powwow to the next, dancing with power and spirit, and basking in the warmth of the people in attendance and the powwow circle itself. As they travelled, her love for dance continued to grow.
She tried its many forms, and loved them all. Dance was her dream, and she was living that dream. A dancer's life wasn't perfect ... it was hard work. That hard work wasn't nearly as hard as spending days at school where Ria was shy and often alone. Once she graduated, she travelled the world because of her passion for it and tremendous talent. Always in her heart were her ancestors and her love for home.
"No matter how far I went,
I would always return to my
homelands, to the sound of the drums."
Personal, thought-provoking, abundant with the traditions of her culture ... and filled with unending pride.
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