Turkey dance

The turkey dance (Caddo: Núh Kaʔáwshan) is an important traditional dance of the Caddo people. In this dance, women move in special ways while men drum and sing. The songs share stories from Caddo history.

The dance usually takes place in the afternoon and ends before sunset. This time matches when turkeys return to their roosts. The Caddo people often set up their villages near these places. The turkeys would make noise if someone came close, helping to keep the village safe.

History

The turkey dances have very old roots, and many stories tell how they began. One story says that a Caddo man was hunting when he heard singing. He found a group of turkey hens dancing in a circle around a male turkey. The man watched and remembered the dance to show it to his tribe.

In the 1700s, Spanish missionaries wrote about Hasinai women performing the turkey dance when warriors came back to their village. Today, Caddo women still dance using a special ceremonial cane that the Spanish gave to the tribe long ago, before 1809. The dance stayed important through the years and became very popular again after World War II.

Dance

The turkey dance is an important traditional dance of the Caddo people. In the past, women would dance around a pole. Then they would gather around the men who were drumming. The dance ends with a special song and the lowering of the US flag to honor Caddo veterans. The dance moves of the women might have been inspired by the way turkeys move.

Today, turkey dances usually take place at the Caddo National Tribal Complex dance grounds in Binger, Oklahoma. Both the Hasinay Society and the Caddo Cultural Club perform these dances.

Regalia

Caddo women wear special handmade dresses for the turkey dance. The dresses are long and have ribbons on the skirt. They also wear matching blouses and aprons. In addition, women wear beadwork, blankets, and special plaques called dush-tohs. These plaques are decorated with brass or mirrors and have ribbons attached to them.

Songs

There are 52 songs for the turkey dance that are still sung today. These songs tell stories from Caddo history in many dialects of the Caddo language. They often start with stories about how the Caddo people were created. One song even tells how Caddo Lake was made in just one night.