Callahan students treated to Native American presentation
Callahan students treated to Native American presentation
POSTED 10/09/2008 - Jimmy Sawgrass, a Muskogee Indian, and his troupe visited Callahan's Intermediate School Friday and I got to be there for part of it. He did a lot of face painting and also sold fox tails, tomahawks and other items of interest.
The Muskogee were also named "Creek" Indians, possibly by British traders, because many of their villages were located near creeks or rivers. You can find more information about the tribe and its history in the Untied States in Wikipedia or by searching the Internet.
Later that evening they gave a show including a number of special dances. Jimmy also demonstrated making fire by using a bow drill set which included a buffalo rib bone. I had never seen that done - for real - before and it was quite a sight.
His family and several helpers also provided some traditional Indian pow-wow (get together) dances, all done in costume. Included were the Comanche Eagle Dance, a Snake Dance, the Omaha (Oklahoma) Grass Dance, and the Hoop Dance, just to name a few. Jimmy and his troupe accompanied all with flute, drum and song.
Jimmy's been visiting schools and other locations for more than 20 years - he's been coming to Callahan's Intermediate School for at least the past 10. Jim finished the evening with a version of musical chairs involving hoops where he taught a dance step. It was the ladies against the gentlemen, and finally, the ladies won.
