It’s Happening at Chinook Winds ...
by Teresa Simmons
American Indian Dance Theatre
to Perform
You won’t want to miss the
performance of the American Indian
Dance Theatre (AIDT) at Chinook
Winds on May 25 and 26.
AIDT was originally formed in
May 1987, when more than 20 Native
American dancers, singers, and
drummers representing a variety of
North American tribes gathered in
Colorado Springs to begin rehearsals
with a revolutionary new theatrical
dance company. Formed to fill a void
in the dance world, the company
provides Native Americans with a
chance to share their heritage and
culture with the world.
Since its formation, AIDT has
received strong support from members
of the American Indian community,
who have applauded the company’s
goal of preserving an important part of
the culture and traditions of Native
American people.
AIDT has exceeded all expectations
in becoming the first company to
successfully present traditional Native
American dances in a theatrical setting
without sacrificing the basic integrity
and meaning of the dances.
“During each performance,
audiences experience many styles of
American Indian dancing,” says director
Geiogamah. “All our dances are
traditional and authentic, but have been
staged as theatrical pieces. In making
this transition, however, we have been
careful not to alter the basic structure
of any of the dances.”
Each season, AIDT adds new pieces
to its repertoire. In recent years, dance
Team members gather following the awards ceremony. Back row, I to r - Player/
Coach Bristo Bayya, Manuel Bayya, Doug Colton, Marcus Butler, Jerry Howell
(holding jacket), Brandon Case, and Greg Leno. Front row, I to r - Coach Leon
Metcalf, Jason Howell, Wazzy Case, Brett Lane, and Willie Metcalf Members of
the team not in attendance include Mike Cauritan and Mark Wheeling.
suites from the Pacific Northwest, the
eastern woodlands, and the southwest
pueblos have been incorporated into the
company’s program. In each case, the
new dances were added with the
approval of tribal leaders.
“Whenever we add a new tribal
piece, we first make sure that there are
no religious restrictions to performing
that dance in public,” says Geiogamah,
who is an adjunct professor in the
Native American Studies Department at
UCLA. “We then invite members of the
tribe to advise us on regalia and music.
In some cases, a tribal leader or elder
will teach the dance to our cast.”
Don’t miss your chance to see this
sensational performance on May 25 and
26. The show is at 8 p.m. on May 25
and at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on May 26.
Tickets are $10 and $15, depending on
seat location.
Men’s Softball Team Inducted
into the USSSA Hall of Fame
On April 7, the USSSA (United
States Specialty Sports Association)
Native American 2000 World
Champion Men’s Softball Team,
“Chinook Winds Warriors,” was
inducted into the USSSA Softball Hall
of Fame. The awards ceremony took
place in Salem, Ore., at the Wittenburg
Inn with approximately 200 people
attending.
The Warriors won the 2000 Native
American
World
Softball
Championships in September at
Wallace Marine Park in Salem. Ten
team members belong to the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
of Oregon and three players are Grande
Ronde Tribal members
The team played seven games
during the two-day tournament, losing
two games and competing for the
championship against the Karuk team
from Springfield, Ore. They won in the
second championship game by rallying
for 10 runs in the last inning, with Mark
Wheeling hitting a grand slam.
Wheeling was selected as MVP and
was named the
Doug Colton
Outstanding
Mos
Player.
Offensive
Metcalf,
Willie
Lane,
Bret
Wazzy
Case, and
M i k e I I SOFTBALL ! Cauritan
Xr
selected as
wer e
members of the All-Native American
World Team.
Teams from Arizona, Oklahoma,
Florida,
and
Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships
Washington,
Nevada
Oregon,
competed
for
the championship.
Three sets of fathers and sons are
More than 100 competitors will
competition do not tolerate steroid use.
7 p.m. to midnight, is sold out, plenty of
on the team, all Siletz Tribal members:
take part in the NPC Ironman Naturally
This stipulation is taken so seriously that
seats are available for the prejudging
Leon Metcalf and son Willie; Wazzy
Bodybuilding and Women’s Fitness
each contestant must sign a waiver
event, which begins at 10 a.m. Tickets
Case and son Brandon; and Jerry
Competition on May
19 in the
consenting to take a polygraph test to
cost $10. Prejudging tickets will not be
Howell and son Jason. Also from the
showroom at Chinook Winds Casino &
establish that they have not been using
pre-sold. They will be available at the door
Siletz Tribe are Marcus Butler, Bristo
Convention Center. The fifth annual
drug-enhancing steroids to help them
at 8 a.m. on May 19.
Bayya, Bret Lane, Manuel Bayya, and
competition includes bodybuilders from
“beef up.”
Washington, and Oregon.
“Natural bodybuilding” means that
contestants
22
□
taking
in
part
Siletz News
□
this
long-time
Siletz resident
Mark
Sanctioned by the National Physique
R.K. Smith Productions, Ron and
Wheeling. From the Grand Ronde Tribe
Committee (NPC), this one-day event can
Susan Smith, at 503-392-3661. You
are Greg Leno, Doug Colton, and Mike
be enjoyed by the entire family. Although
may visit the Oregon Ironman online
Cauriton. Coaches were Bristo Bayya
the night performance, which runs from
at www.lincolncity.com/ironman.
and Leon Metcalf.
California,
Idaho,
Montana,
For further information, contact
May 2001