People of the Tall Pines
The Hualapai (People of the Tall Pines) use song to share their journeys through life. The men are the heartbeat of each performance, creating a rhythm with drums and gourds to accompany the birds songs. These songs come to the bird singer through his dreams or are passed along from generation to generation.
While the men play and chant, the ladies dance, mimicking the movements of birds. As they sway to the music, they will put their arms out, blessing the ground that they dance on and everyone and everything that surrounds them. These dances represent the journeys of the Tribe, shared by the elder women and handed down to younger generations.
Bird Dancers: Ernestine Claw, Serena Nodman, Roselyn Wescogame, Angelique Jackson
Bird Singer: Marcelino Osife