June 17 – With tears in the corners of Ahyoka Youngdeer’s eyes, she told her audience: “We have come a long way. …”
In a room once filled with the sound of shakers, the rhythm of many feet and chants of hymns, the Tahlequah First United Methodist Church Auxiliary Building fell silent on June 15. Then there were voices of approval as Youngdeer left the stage after expressing her appreciation to everyone present. She and everyone involved in the “Tahlequah Two Spirit Celebration: Symposium, Meal, and Stomp Dance” created a space where those who identified as Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ felt welcome.
Ahyoka Youngdeer, a committee member, said the symposium/stomp dance went better than she expected.
“I know there has been a lot of progress here and I can also recognize that Tahlequah itself was a small island that people like me could come to,” Youngdeer said.
A few months ago, Youngdeer said, she was approached by Two Spirit Celebration Project Committee Chairman Dr. Jonathan Hook and his committee on an event to recognize LGBTQ+ and two-spirit individuals. The highlight of the committee meetings was a daylong event that included a meal, a symposium, storytelling and a stomping dance open to the public.
Following Cherokee Nation Chief Chief Chuck Hoskin’s declaration of June as Pride Month for the tribe, Youngdeer said it felt like a complete turnaround because two spirits aren’t often talked about in Native culture. Some may view it negatively or as an attempt to seek attention.
“I hope that if two spiritual people come to this event, who are not sure that they have a place in society and in ceremonial communities, I hope that they realize that this is the case,” Youngdeer said. “Many communities are still against it, but that’s because as Cherokees, as indigenous people in general, we still have a lot to unlearn from colonization, from this tool that was used to erase us, because we’re still here .’ We are still part of the community and we are not going anywhere.”
Several hours prior to the stomp dance, a symposium was held at the Tahlequah Public Library, where several lectures were offered, with topics ranging from two spiritual people in traditional Cherokee society, to bullying and harassment, to a political discussion about LGBTQ+ bills and legislation. .
Intercultural Partnership Committee member Jackie Eagle said it was exciting for her to have such information available to people, especially because such discussions are often difficult to find.
“I think the one thing I hope people gain is a better understanding of who the LGBTQ community is and how we belong here,” Eagle said. “Many of us were born and raised in this area and grew up here. As Ahyoka said in one of her talks, until recently we never really felt like we belonged, so my greatest hope is to gain more information and understanding get for the larger community than we are here, and we belong to it, and it always has been that way.”
Partners for the event included Squirrel Ridge Ceremonial Ground, Tahlequality, Tahlequah Public Library, Intercultural Partnership Committee of the Cherokee County Democratic Party and Tahlequah First United Methodist Church.
A free Indian taco meal was offered before the stomp dance, with FUMC Pastor Shana Dry taking the microphone to apologize on behalf of her church. Dry talked about how the church’s history is intertwined with indigenous people during the Trail of Tears and at other times in the past.
“Today we recognize and address the injustices committed against the Cherokee and other indigenous communities, many of which were perpetuated or tolerated by the Church during some of the most tragic episodes in American history,” Dry said. “We honor the resilience of the Cherokee people and all indigenous communities who have carried their stories and pain through the generations. We recognize the courage it takes to face a past marred by injustice and suffering.”
Dry said the church recognized that it and the broader institution had failed to stand up to injustices against Indigenous people.
“The Tahlequah United Methodist Church sincerely apologizes for the role we played in the suffering endured by the Cherokee and other indigenous peoples,” Dry said. “We regret the times the Church prioritized institutional protection over the well-being and dignity of individuals and communities. We are deeply sorry for the times we failed to listen to, or acknowledge, the experiences and wounds of those affected by this injustice.”
Dry said the church has pledged to build relationships, support indigenous initiatives and promote healing and reconciliation.
Youngdeer said she appreciated Dry’s sentiments and appreciated that the church provided space for the stomp dance.
“I personally believe that actions speak louder than words. I believe what people do. I am skeptical of what people say, but I know personally that I have witnessed [Dry] for years – I’m a former NSU student, and every week she cared for students on that campus. Her actions speak to the words she spoke,” Youngdeer said. “I think it’s really important that people look at people’s actions and not just [listen] according to their words.”
Sage Runsabove was present at both the symposium and the stomp dance. Runsabove, a member of the All Nations Two Spirit Society Oklahoma, said very few two spirit events are open to the public as the group tries to create and keep spaces safe for those who participate.
Runsabove said she hopes attendees will take away a newfound respect from the event.
“Hopefully they tell their friends and family what they saw today, and it opens their eyes to what’s here. So many people are closed-minded and only see what’s in front of them, so hopefully they can see a broader aspect of what we do,” said Runsabove.
JP Johnson, second chief of Squirrel Ridge Ceremonial Ground and Youngdeer’s brother, said most people who think of native people dancing will automatically imagine a powwow instead of a stomp dance. Johnson said offering both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people a chance to see a stomp dance will help dispel stereotypes and misconceptions.
“It’s good for them to see that it’s not that spectacular,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing special or fantastic about it. I think it’s more about unity and us being together and all the balance that comes with that.”
