Memories of Ceremonial Bill McCarthy

Memories of Ceremonial

By Bill McCarthy

TThe year was 1988. I had come into Gallup green and inexperienced. Having been born and raised in Mission, Kansas, my home was right on the spot of a Pawnee village. That noble tribe, now sadly extinct, left a remnant in a museum right down the street, just a walking distance from my front porch.

That was the extent of my knowledge and interaction with Native Peoples and Native Cultures. One of the perks of coming to work at the Southwest Indian Foundation is that we have one of the few multi-story buildings in downtown Gallup. Facing the south out of large windows, one has a perfect VIP vantage point for the Ceremonial Parade.

Not really knowing what to expect, as our family waited, the three girls all under the age of reason, and John just an infant, we faintly heard the beat of the drums and the rich voices chanting.

I couldn’t really tell you much about that day, except I know it was generally a good time. But there was one aspect I do recall. I couldn’t tell you the tribe or the particular dance, but there was a young man, who was maybe 16. He was absolutely stunning in his fluid, graceful motion and art form. The ripple of his muscles, the handsome regalia, the focus, and concentration, it was pure poetry in motion.

Then it occurred to me that it was really more than artistic expression in dance. It was a prayer. It was a glorification of God’s creation. For many of the Native ceremonies, dance is a central feature. Keeping a dance all night, a sacred manifestation of the spirit, the good, the true, and the beautiful. The expression of prayer, purging, and purification. Keeping the discipline of the action, cadence, and beat as the muscles ache, and fatigue sets in. It is no wonder the Native People are such great distance runners. Certainly worthy of admiration.

BBig Al – My first Ceremonial was 1968 when it was on the north side of town, and it took two hours to drive across town to get to the events. Frances R – I like the Saturday morning parade and seeing the dancers on Highway 66 and the train coming through town at the same time. Bill W – Last year the Indian Rodeo had women who would ride steers and that was really entertaining to see. Sam P – My first Ceremonial, it rained every day and the big storms would roll over Red Rock Park and loud thunder would crack against the red rocks during the dances, making the whole scene very dramatic. Memories of Ceremonial