Sahawe and Kossa Dancers joining Kwahadis on Tour

The Sahawe Indian Dancers were originally founded in 1950 as the Comanche Club Indians by Scoutmaster of Troop 81 in Uvalde, Texas, Joe W. Williams, as a program for older boys in scouting. Mr. Williams had read about a similar program in La Junta, Colorado, known as the Koshare Indian Dancers, and their Buck Burshears. Mr. William and Mr. Burshears corresponded for some time about the possibilities of starting such an Indian dance group in Uvalde. The name of the group was changed to Sahawe Indian Dancers in 1952.

Their first performance was a three minute dance for a Boy Scout Camporee held on the Nueces River, south of Uvalde,Texas. The group had no idea that it would grow into a full time project. Following that performance, they received calls to dance again and again. Several months after that first performance, they were invited to represent the Concho Valley Council, BSA, at a Scout Circus in Ft. Worth, Texas in the Will Rogers Coliseum before 14,000 people.

During the past 50 years several hundred boys have gone through the Sahawe program performing over 2000 shows. They have been designated as Uvalde’s “Ambassadors of Good Will” and were selected as Uvalde’s #1 tourist attractions by the Texas Travel Writers.

The Sahawe organization is made up of boys and girls ranging from the 5th grade through high school and beyond. Many former members still perform with the group when their schedule permits.

Along with their Sahawe activities, the boys are also active in their schools, churches, and other activities. Many excel in athletics, band, scholastics, and 4-H, winning local, area, and state awards. It takes great dedication to juggle all of these activities.

They have danced at the 2007 and 2008 Comache Homecoming Pow Wow in Walters, Oklahoma. at Sultan Park.

The Kossa Dancers began in 1969 as West-Cal Chapter of the Order of the Arrow Dance Team. Over the next few years, the team grew, produced 27 state champion dance teams, two bi-state champion dance teams, and placed in the top three teams in the United States twice. The team was voted the most authentic team in the nation at the National Order of the Arrow Conference, the first team to ever win this award.

In 1983, the decision was made to form an Explorer Post, for youth who wanted to study and perform in more depth. Kossa Dancers will perform for any area organization for a nominal fee to cover expenses. Over the years, the group has included many Eagle Scouts, a number of whom are still active within the organization.

In December 1991, Kossa Plaza was opened, giving the group its own dance theatre for youth. The Plaza, located in Sulphur, La., features a large oval stage. At one end is a wide stair way and wall, modeled after a kiva of an actual pueblo. At the other end is a pueblo village of several stories. Dancers can enter the performance area from the stairway or from ladders down the pueblo wall. The building also includes a Trading Post and numerous works of art done by natives of the Southwest.

The year 2003 brought the introduction of the Red Cactus Flower Dancers into the Kossa organization. At the Winter show in February 2005, a training team was formed of younger boys and girls, to begin getting them ready to move into the dance team when they progress and age enough to be able to dance and travel with the older members.

The Kossa's have traveled nation-wide to perform with their friends the Koshare, Kwahadi and Sahawe Indian Dancers.

Come join us, take the tour with us and see Ireland, Scotland, UK and Paris through our Eyes.

John Madden

Meet the Leaders

The Kwahadi Dancers are a group of dedicated, talented, hard working and fun loving youth. This is truly "A Place Where Children Are The Stars."

They were honored by being given the name "Kwahadi" by the Elders of the Comanche Nation.

They were also recognized with the Texas Commission of the Arts Youth Award for Excellance and chosen to represent the United States at the International Festival of the Arts in Ammon Jordan and to represent the North American Continent at the TreX Games in Busan, South Korea.

The Kwahadis have performed at the Boy Scout Jamboree, the Canadian Scout Jamboree, and for over 30,000 youth and parents at the Milennium Jamboral near Ogden, Utah.

We are proud and invite you to know our leaders.

Leadership positions among the Kwahadi Dancers are elected annually for the Kiowa and Souix clans and every six months for the Maiden Society.

Based on their performance, attendance, their rank and other criteria, these young men and women are elected by their peers as leadership of the group.

Come along, join us, sign in at the blog and follow us on our journey. If you try hard enough you can hear the music and feel the enjoyment of watching the Kwahadi Dancers.

John Madden

Another day, another dance, another night and return home

The Kwahadi's made another trip to Philmont to dance at the PTC (Philmont Training Center).

They presented their program, including a wide variety of dances, and asked those in attendance to dance with them in the "round dance and two step."

It is not our intent to pretend to be Native Americans. The most valuable use of the wonderful gifts of our Indian friends is that our knowledge be used to benefit our scouts and young people everywhere we travel.

So often people will come up to the Kwahadi's afterwards and say, 'I have Native American in my family, I've never seen such beautiful outfits (regalia), or enjoyed a program so much."

That's what we're about. Sharing, tradition, honor, heritage awareness, respect, and "Dancing for food." We say we dance for food (helps us pay our way), which helps us to share the wonderful dances of a proud nation.

Since 1944, sixty-five years, over 1600 boys and girls have gone through the Kwahadi Dancers. We have been to 48 states, including Hawaii, foreign countries and put on over 4,000 shows.

We are proud and privileged to do what we do.

The PTC offers organized programs for every member of a family, from little ones to spouses. All this while spouses are receiving training in many areas of Scouting.

Serving as the only national volunteer training center for the Boy Scouts of America since 1950, the Philmont Training Center (PTC) provides a unique environment for the training of volunteer and professional leaders. Each year, more than 6,000 Scouters and family members attend PTC.

Each conference features the latest tools and techniques, audiovisuals, discussions, idea sharing, and activities led by a faculty of experienced Scouters. Invitation to these conferences is upon recommendation of the local council or a national committee.

Prior to dancing they visited the Villa De Philmonte.

The Villa Philmonte is a large ranch manor located outside of Cimarron, New Mexico.

Philmont Scout Ranch is a large, rugged, mountainous ranch located near the town of Cimarron, New Mexico covering approximately of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico.

The Villa was built in 1926 by oil magnate Waite Phillips who used it to oversee his 300,000 acre (1,200 km²) cattle ranch in northeast New Mexico.

In addition to the Villa, Phillips built several other retreats on his ranch’s property, including Fish Camp on the Agua Fria Creek and a Hunting Lodge near Cimarroncito.

Phillips donated the Villa, along with of land and the Philtower office building in Tulsa to the Boy Scouts in 1941, supplementing a 1938 gift of that had created the Philturn Rocky Mountian Scoutcamp. The Boy Scouts of America retained
control over the property since that time. opening the Villa to Scouts and visitors alike as a museum; it is open for regularly-scheduled tours during the summer months.

Furnishings
The Villa is lavishly furnished, and retains many of Phillips’ original furnishings and collections, including particularly notable displays of antiques and weapons. The building features a large courtyard with a fountain in the center, large columns, and numerous porticoes. The interior was decorated using an eclectic mix of European, American, and Southwestern furnishings.

Call us, come see us, spend the night at our Kiva, and let us know if you are interested in having us come to your part of the world.

Charles (Ritchie at the Kiva) loves to talk and you'll enjoy talking to him.

Hop on the blog and go with us.-

John Madden

Steps towards European Tour

Step by step the Kwahadi's get ready for their European Tour.

Planning and lots of practice bring outstanding results. This season their theme is "Song of the Eagle." It includes dances from Mexico (Aztec dances) and traditional plains Indians.

The shows are presented at the Kiva June 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 20, 26, 27 and July 2, 9, 10, 11, 17 and 18. Not only can you catch a show, but visitors can also spend the night at the Kiva. It has showers, bathrooms and plenty of room to spread out a cot, air mattress or sleeping bag. How often can you "Spend the night in a Museum?"

Isn't there a couple movies out about that?

On the nights of show you can also get a meal. Check with Charles Ritchie through ( www.kwahadi.com ).

Prior to the shows they have a Parent night and dress rehearsal. It's a great experience as parents, family, guests and fellow Kwahadi's see their efforts coming together for a wonderful presentation.

The dancers, parents, family and friends work so hard and are extremely proud of their results. So will you!

Four times (June 8, 15, 22 and July 15), before leaving on tour, the Kwahadi's travel to Philmont Scout Ranch, at Cimarron, New Mexico to dance at the Training Center.

The June 8th trip was the 107th (we're fairly sure) to Philmont for the Kwahadi's and my first with them. We dance the day we get there, spend the night, load up the next day and return home. It's a fast but very scenic trip.

We saw over 200 antelopes both going and returning. Leaving we saw a small herd of Buffalo, If any herd of Buffalo is small, so to speak.

Philmont is my favorite Scout camp and place. I've been to Philmont on six treks and Woodbadge for a total of seven times.
Any time I can come up with an excuse to be in that part of Northeastern New Mexico, Philmont finds its way into my trip. Must be some kind of Scouting/Philmont magic that makes that happen.

If you're on your way to Philmont and traveling through Amarillo, call Charles about spending the night at the Kiva. Maybe you'll be there for a show.

Or if you're traveling back, stop by, spend the night, check out the museum, visit the trading post and feel the energy of the Kiva.

Step by step we move towards our European Tour 2009.

Join us on our adventure. Join the blog at "SIGN IN" and travel with us.

John Madden

Waiting to dance

Howdy. That's a West Texas greeting. I'm John Madden, proud associate advisor for the Kwahadi Dancers. My dress (we call it regalia) is a Straight Dancer.

The Straight Dance, sometimes referred to as Southern Traditional, is the formal and original dance of most of the Oklahoma tribes, including the Ponca, Osage, Kiowa, Comanche, Kaw, and many others. It is a dignified style, where the men who dance it keep a steady, flowing pace that is not interrupted with fancy moves or extra footwork. Because of its slow place, some people believe that it is an old man's dance, but this is not the case. There are many fine Straight Dancers in the Oklahoma area, ranging in age from ten to eighty. Some of the best places for Straight Dancers to go include the Ponca Hethuska and the Kiowa Tia-piah Society's Dance. The Ponca Hethuska is held twice a year in the town of White Eagle, Oklahoma, once in April and once in October. It is a formal war dance, meaning that it follows the old ways, and has many strict rules that must be adhered to. There, every dancer is required to dance every dance for the duration of the war dance, which is very tiring. The Kiowa Tia Piah Society holds their annual dance at Carnegie, OK over the Fourth of July. This dance is also excellent place to see Gourd Dancing.

I'm also a Gourd Dancer and will tell you about that later.

I'm Cheokee, adpoted into the Comanche, Tewa and Lakota, plus Scots/Irish.

Come see the Kwahadi Dancers. You'll have a great time, get to take once-in-a-lifetime photos, see outstanding dancing and meet extremely wonderful young men and young women.

The KWAHADI DANCERS.

Thank you,

John Madden

The Burren in County Clarke, Ireland

What a trip, we'll visit The Burren in County Clarke, Ireland.

The name Burren is from the Irish - bhoireann meaning a stony place. Its formation has lain unspoiled since the ice-age and is composed of karstic limestone, the largest area of such in western Europe.

It is a place of surprise and delight to botanists, archaeologists and ecologists alike and occupies an area of approximately 300 sq. kilometres. The area itself is very bleak in appearance with glacial soil loss at a maximum. However is does have sufficient soil to grow a wide variety of the most unusual and rarest of plants, many of them strange bedfellows.

This area has some of the finest archaeological megalithic tombs in Ireland, if not in Western Europe. There are relics of human habitation dating back almost 6000 years and the most famous is the vortal tomb, or portal dolman, at Poulnabrone. In this area alone there are more than 60 wedge tombs and the densest concentration in Ireland. There are also numerous examples of raths (earthen ring forts) and stone cashels. This area is also rich in historical ecclesiastical sites

Come along and travel with us, see what we see, go where we go, do what we do, see how kids, Boy and Girl Scouts, from West Texas and The Panhandle of Texas represent the area, region, State of Texas, family, Scouting and themselves. You'll be PROUD!