American Indian Expo Brings Tribes from Across the State to Celebrate in Anadarko
Tribes across Oklahoma gathered in Anadarko for Oklahoma’s 88th annual American Indian Expo.
This is the first time since 2019 that Anadarko is hosting the event.
The Expo held an oldies dance on July 29 and a Beautiful Indian Baby Contest on Tuesday, August 1, at the Iscani Gym.
The contest was open to children ages 0 to 6 in the boy's and girl’s categories.
Everyone was encouraged to dance at the event and show off their tribal regalia.
Comanche Nation Princess McKenzi Sovo and other princesses were in attendance.
“We've seen a lot of the indigenous children in their regalia today and they looked really cute,” she said. “And they got some trophies and we gave out some candy bags with some goodies in it for them for participating and being a part of this.”
She said she looked forward to being a part of the expo.
“I've never been in the expo as a really at all,” she said. “So, it's definitely going to be a great experience to also see and meet new and see again all the other tribal princesses. And I think that'll be a good deal because there's a lot of princesses I haven't met and there's a lot that I haven't seen in a while. So, it'd be good to see them and hang out with them a lot and just be a part of that with them.”
Sovo said it had been a while due to the pandemic, and people are excited to see what’s new and different and meet the princesses.
She also said it’s about having fun at the events she attends.
“It feels really good because a lot of the expo is about the tribal princesses,” Sovo said. “So, it feels good to get to experience all these things also while representing the Comanche Nation being their princess. So, I think it'll be a good deal for the Comanche Nation itself that their representative is you know showing up and doing all these things and having a good time and enjoying themselves and it's not so serious. I like to have fun, I do. So, I'd like to enjoy myself a lot more.”
She said it was nerve-wracking because she wanted to represent the Comanche Nation well; however, it was a great experience.
“Not only for me but for other tribal princesses as well and it's definitely going to be a learning curve like some of the events going on,” Sovo said. “It's going to be really stressful because I've never done this before so I'm trying to be as prepared as I can be so I can give my best, you know, but I'm just really excited to be with all the other tribal princesses and just being involved in everything. I think it'll be really fun and educating.”
Then, on August 2 and 5, a parade through downtown Anadarko occurred. The contest included best person on foot, best float, best singing, best person on horseback and best tribal group performance.
There was a powwow at 8 p.m. from August 2 through 5 at the Caddo County Fairgrounds.
On August 3, tribal princesses gathered at the Southern Plains Indian Museum for a paint party.
Sovo and Comanche Nation Jr. Princess Vivian Parker were both in attendance.
The princesses received instructions on creating a landscape with a buffalo silhouette.
This was a favorite event for Apache Tribal Princess Amaya Bonilla-Harris.
“I feel like it helped the princesses come together and get to share a few laughs with each other,” she said. “I really enjoyed the powwow portion of the fair too. I think it was a lot of fun.”
Bonilla-Harris said this was her first time at the Expo and experiencing the event. Harris travels between Kansas and Oklahoma.
“So being able to come to these events and seeing all these familiar faces outside of the princesses that I've met is really fun,” she said. “And then along with that my mom, she was princess in 2001-2002 as the Apache princess as well, and she would talk to me about the fair stuff when she was here. And just getting to be here the first year that it's becoming a thing again is something that I'll hold dear to my heart. And I think just getting to be able to represent my tribe in a good way throughout this week is something that I'm really looking forward to too.”
Bonilla-Harris said it’s important for those who haven’t attended the event in a while.
“It is something good happening within the environment too just for people to get out and get to come to a big event like this that hasn't been put on for a few years now,” she said. “I think it'll definitely bring a lot of people back together and I'm just really excited to see all the smiling faces and hear all the laughs.”
Bonilla-Harris said she’s enjoyed seeing and meeting the other princesses and becoming closer to them.
Then on August 4, the princesses created various booths for the princess reception at the Wichita Community Center.
Kiowa Tribal Princess Kyla Tsoodle said her favorite part of the expo was having all of the tribes present for the Expo.
“And for all of us to come together or most of us to come together it's just it's a beautiful thing, a beautiful part about our culture,” she said.
Tsoodle said the event is important because it introduces the culture to other natives and ethnicities.
“And we introduce that and we tell them we show them we don't say you can come in,” she said. “But we do say here's what we offer this is what we do this is how we dance this is how we dress this is how we talk and I think that's the beautiful part is the introducing and teaching everyone our ways.”
Tsoodle said she’d attended the expo every year.
“I remember when I was little itty bitty and going into the parade and having an umbrella sitting on the curb waiting for the parade to start,” she said. “And then later on going to Anadarko Fair and just enjoying all the rides.”
A gourd dance was later held to honor each of the princesses.
The expo continued on August 5 with a bow shoot.
Contestants showed off their skills and had plenty of snacks.
Medals were also handed out after the shoot for those with the best scores in their division.
The Expo ended with Indian Relay races, with Bad Nation taking home first place and a men’s softball tournament.
There were various other events throughout the expo, and American Indian Exposition President Tanner Mahseet said the expo's history is to bring tribes together and showcase each tribe.
“Some of my favorite moments is the parade. I love the parade ever since you know I was a little kid going to watch that parade,” he said. “I know it's a big thing for the community of Anadarko but you know and just having everybody you know conjoined downtown and have that parade going through it is a very spectacular thing.”
Mahseet started as the Apache Tribal Director and was nominated to be president of the expo.
“My involvement since has been just getting with tribes, getting with you know, making sure that our directors are you know getting out there and being in contact with their tribes,” he said.
Mahseet said 15 tribes participate in the expo. He said it feels great to have the expo back after several years and that bringing it back to Anadarko was important.
“It's something that the community of Anadarko we thought needed and so just getting it back to getting it back I thought was you know something that needed to be done,” he said.
He said it helps the native community.
“We have our powwow people, we have our other traditional people whether it be Native American church or sun dance or you know contest powwow, regular gourd dance powwow people. But bringing everybody together and even…the Natives that aren't culturally in taking with all the cultural activities it still brings…everyone together,” Mahseet said. “And so, I think that is important to have you know. So, little kids that don't know much about it that their parents aren't into the culture they can come out and see that.”
