Native American Legislative Day at the Capitol
February 04, 2015 –
The Royal Valley Singers & Dancers got their photograph taken today with Gov. Sam Brownback at the Capitol.
Gov. Brownback was also photographed with dancer K.J. Miller who is holding the Battle of the Plains championship trophy that the group recently won in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Several Native American dance groups competed for the championship.
Royal Valley students Taryn Boswell (far left) and Trent Blalock (far right) were selected as pages at the Capitol today and were photographed with Dist. Rep. Ponka-We Victors and Gov. Brownback. Rep. Victors is the first Native American woman ever elected to the Kansas legislature and introduced the bill that desginates the first Wednesday in February as Native American Legislative Day.
Prairie Band Tribal Council and Gov. Brownback. (Left to right) Junior Wahweotten, Hattie Mitchell, Joyce Guerrero, Tom Wabnum, Gov. Brownback, Liana Onnen, Carrie O’Toole and Camilla Chouteau.
Anita Evans (in red at the podium) was given a recognition document from Rep. Victors that was given in front of the Legislature this morning. Evans was thanked for her many years of service with the singers and dancers both in the Royal Valley School District and the PBPN Boys & Girls Club. Royal Valley teacher Connie Peters has also helped sponsor the group of kindergarten to twelfth grade students. The Legislature gave standing ovations when the dance members and when PBPN Tribal Council were introduced. Leaders from the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, Iowa Tribe in Kansas and Nebraska and Haskell Indian Nations University were also recognized.
The dancers gave a performance during the lunch break.
Little Soldier provided the drum.
Mshewe Hale gave a solo hand drum performance in between dancing and being part of the drum.
Gov. Brownback also participated in a dance and is seen conversing with former PBPN powwow princess Brennah Wahweotten.
Some young dancers smile for the camera along with Rep. Victors.
Robert Jackson was available to hand out information about the PBPN at a display exhibit that was organized through the PBPN Human Resources Department where he works.