Stillwater High School hosted a celebratory dance given to the people from the Kiowas called a Gourd Dance last month in the Student Center. 

Indigenous Peoples Education Coordinator Rusty Atkins said nearly 250 people attended the event. The dance will now become a yearly event during the month of November. 

“The purpose of the dance is to celebrate being native., to come together and have a good time, rekindle relationships, laugh and enjoy the music,” Atkins said

Atkins said high school students were encouraged to go dance and listen and learn about cultural events and activities. 

“I think people enjoyed themselves,” he said. “Lots of laughter, hand shaking, good spirits and great food.” 

Senior Alexander Peetoom said the event was a way to connect with cultures from his native side and a way to honor them. 

“I’ve never been to something like that before,” Peetoom said. “Just being able to be there and understand that side of my ancestry was really cool.”

Peetom said the event is important to him because there are a lot of native students at SHS that aren’t active, and having opportunities like this helps reconnect them to their culture and ancestry. 

Sophomore Curtis Sage said the event is also important to him as well.

“It’s important to have the event because it brings the culture back to Stillwater,” Sage said. “My favorite part of the event was the food.”