By Patricia Angle, December 15, 2014
Early December, a special cross-cultural event took place at the the Nez Perce community Pi-nee-waus community center. Colorful Maasai warriors met the Nez Perce in a cultural exchange. Both cultures were at full display, which included dancing, art work, and of course food!
True to Native tradition, the guests were welcomed by eight Nez Perce dancers with a Grand Entry. They responded in their own way of honoring their hosts.
The Maasai group from the East African country Kenya, consisted of 12 dancers, including their leader Sironka. The group is named: “Friends of Sironka.”
The crowd observed the warrior dancers from Kenya and got to participate in their activities. People of all ages were invited to jump with them in their unique style and to participate in a skit representing a Maasai wedding party.
Youth from SFS had set up a display of drums which they had made during culture camp. The Maasai also had a large display of their bead work and offered it for sale. Income derived from the sale helps pay for their travel expenses and allows them to send funds to their families in Kenya.
Teacher Brenna Terry presented Nancy, a member of the Maasai team with letters from her students.
The Chief Joseph Warriors Committee fed the Maasai a delicious meal of buffalo roast, scalloped potatoes, desert, and cake. Thanks to Carla and Bill Timentewa, the Maasai also got to taste bitter root, kakeet, qemes, and huckleberries. They especially liked qemes.
After their welcome and performance in Lapwai, I drove with them to Kamiah. My Mom, Lydia Angle, had prepared a New England boiled dinner for the group. They enjoyed the dinner and a little down time, often by singing one of their songs.
I presented them maps of the Nez Perce Reservation and of the United States with all the different Reservations on it. They were provided by Nez Perce Land Services. My niece Stella Penney, shared some of our tribe’s history, which was of great interest to them.
They observed many similarities in the way colonialism has affected our tribes.
The Maasai stayed at different homes of First Indian Presbyterian Church members. The women, Nancy and Miriam stayed at my family’s house.
Sunday morning we prepared breakfast for the group at Nekisa Hall. Dressed in their cultural beaded clothes, the group attended and shared some of their songs at Second Church and later at First Church in Kamiah.
A community dinner at Nekisa Hall after the services provided the group with another opportunity to share in delicious food. They also displayed their art work for sale and entertained everybody with their unique, melodious singing and dancing.
I would like to thank all who helped to welcome the Maasai through your contributions and for sharing our culture through dance and hospitality.
Sironka, the leader of the team told me that this was a very fulfilling time for him and the team members. He discovered many similarities in our tribal histories and noted, where cultural differences exist, we can learn from each other.
He also teased about taking our drum and dancers to Africa!
I loved reading this. It brought such an excitement to my heart. It also made me miss New England Boiled dinners!!! Praying for your ministry!