Tripping with Vins: NOAC

Wednesday morning started out like most for the Comanche Lodge Contingent. Everyone woke up between 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM and went and got some breakfast.

Tanek was used as a volunteer to demonstrate
fancy dance regalia for the class.

At 8:30 AM many of our members went to the various classes offered around campus. Tanek and I attended an overview of Fancy Dancing. The class was great. We stayed for the first two of three hours.

During the first hour we discussed the dance regalia. Several different pieces of regalia were shown and passed around the class. There was some brief discussion of the differences of Southern and Northern Fancy Dance Regalia.

The second hour of the class was even better than the first. We proceeded into the dance portion where we were explained how the drum and music go so that we might understand the basic premise of the dance and how it ties into the drum. Then we moved into actual dancing.

Fancy Dancer during completion.

One of the instructors showed the entire class some basic fancy dance steps. The entire class got up and danced, including myself although I had to stop early.

Choctaw Chapter Chief Jacob Thompson said on Tuesday he attended a class, “How to Make a Dance Bustle.” Thompson said, “I loved that class. It was great!” During the class Thompson said the instructor was very detailed and went step by step to explain the bustle making process.

On Wednesday Thompson went to the Munson Ice Center and watched some of the Fancy Dancers. He said while he was there he also got to see a group of Eagle Dancers.

After watching the dancing he went to an American Indian Association Booth and put into practice his lessons from Tuesdays and built a bustle feather.

Comanche Lodge Members pose with the
National Vice Chief.

In the afternoon it was free time for everyone. Several Lodge Members went to the Trading Post, Rock Climbing, Patch Trading, Watching Indian Dancing, Boulder Climbing, Ice Climbing, and more.

The Wednesday Night Show was about reminding us about remembering the past and looking to the future. We were dared to do 100 good turns every day for 100 days and post it on social media.

The stage from the convention floor.

The only negative aspect of Wednesday’s event was our seating in the stadium. It was great on the first row of bleachers to have access to the floor but when the show started we really could not see the stage and the jumbotron was mostly not being used on our side and was in an inconvenient position.

Concerning the overall NOAC Event, Choctaw Chapter Member Thomas Strebeck said, “I did not believe it when people said NOAC was better than the National Jamboree, but it is!”