Koshare Indian Museum and Dancers facts for kids
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The Koshare Indian Museum is a special place in La Junta, Colorado. It's a museum about art and Scouting. The building is on the Otero Junior College campus. It has three levels and a special round room called a kiva. This kiva has the biggest log roof in the world that holds itself up! The museum building was built in 1949.
Inside the museum, you can see amazing art from Pueblo and Plains Native American tribes.
The museum also helps Boy Scouts who are traveling to Philmont Ranch. They offer discounts to the museum and places for Scout troops to stay overnight.
For many years, some Native American people have not been happy with the Koshare dance performances. They feel it's a form of cultural appropriation. This means taking parts of another culture without fully understanding or respecting them.
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| Koshare Indian Dancers | |||
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Inside the Koshare Kiva, where the dancers perform.
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| Headquarters | La Junta, Colorado | ||
| Founded | 1933 | ||
| Founder | James F. "Buck" Burshears | ||
| Affiliation | Boy Scouts of America | ||
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The Koshare Indian Dancers are a group of Boy Scouts from Troop 232. This troop is part of the Rocky Mountain Council in La Junta, Colorado. They have been performing their own versions of Native American dances since 1933.
Besides regular Scouting activities like camping and earning merit badges, Koshares also create their own dance outfits. They learn about leatherwork and beading. They do this by researching Native American history. The dancers travel around the country to perform. They show traditional ceremonial dances from the Plains and Pueblo Native American tribes. They also put on 50 to 60 shows each year. These are called Summer and Winter Ceremonial shows. They perform them in their special kiva at the Koshare Indian Museum in La Junta. The Koshares have performed in 47 different states!
The Koshare Dancers were started by a Scoutmaster named James F. "Buck" Burshears. He lived from 1909 to 1987. He also wrote "The Scoutmaster's Prayer." He began the group in February 1933. At first, they were called the Boy Scout Indian Club. They practiced in Burshears's backyard and even in a chicken coop!
Later, their name was changed to Koshare. This word means "clown" or "delight-maker" in the Hopi language. Burshears thought this name was a good fit for the early members of the troop. The first two Koshare Scouts were Bill Sisson and Bob Inman. They helped Troop 232 grow to include eighteen other Scouts. Their very first performance was in September 1933. It took place at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in La Junta, Colorado.
One person who saw them perform said:
I have been to many spectacles, from Madison Square Garden and the New Amsterdam Theatre to the Hollywood Bowl and the Santa Anita race track, and there is nothing in my memory to match a performance of these Boy Scouts which was recently given at the Red Rock Theatre, up in the hills from Denver.
A book called Be a Great Boy shares stories from past Koshare Indian Dancers. It also keeps a record of the museum's history and how it has been shown in the media.
Koshare members do more than just regular Boy Scout activities. They spend extra time learning about Native American culture. They also learn ceremonial dances and create their own Native American outfits, called regalia.
Koshares can move up in ranks within their chosen "tribes." They do this by completing Scouting tasks and meeting special requirements for each rank. The three different tribes whose dance styles are shown are the Kiowa, Sioux, and Navajo.
- Papooses: New members are called Papooses. They must be at least 11 years old but no older than 18. They can also join if they have earned the Arrow of Light Award, which is the highest award in Cub Scouts.
- Koshare Brave: After earning their Star Scout Rank, a Scout can work to become a Koshare Brave. To do this, they must keep a "C" average in school. They also need to earn the Indian Lore Merit Badge. They must be good at five Koshare Indian dances and show a good Scout attitude. They also read five books about Native American culture. Finally, they create a well-researched outfit and are chosen by the current Koshare members.
- Clan Chief: After becoming a Brave, a Scout can become a Clan Chief. There is one Chief for each of the three tribes. To become a Clan Chief, they must first earn their Eagle Scout rank.
- Head Chief: Each year, one Eagle Scout is chosen to be the Head Chief. This person is in charge of leading all the Koshare members.
- Clowns: The Clowns are painted in black and white. They come out between dances to make people laugh. They might tease the crowd or copy the dancers. In the Pueblo culture, clowns (or koshare) help show what is not good behavior and teach important values.
In 1995, the Koshares wanted to make their dances more accurate. So, they allowed two girls to perform with them each year. This was a success! In 2003, girls were invited to join the performances regularly. This was called the "maiden program."
75th Anniversary Celebration
On July 25, 2008, the Koshares celebrated their 75th anniversary. They had a big reunion at the kiva. All former members were invited to join the current members for an evening performance. The two original members, Bill Sisson and Bob Inman, were there. Hundreds of current and former members also attended.
Some Native American people have shared their concerns about the Koshare Indian Museum and Dancers. For example, a Native American historian named Philip J. Deloria wrote about them in his book Playing Indian. He said the Koshares are an example of "hobbyists." These are people who copy the clothing and items of Native American peoples from the past. However, they might not connect with Native Americans living today.
Some Native Americans believe that these kinds of performances are a form of cultural appropriation. They feel that the dances and costumes are used in a way that takes away their true meaning. Sometimes, elements from different tribes are mixed together, which can be seen as disrespectful.
In the 1950s, the head councilman of the Zuni Pueblo saw a Koshare performance. He was very upset. He told them, "We know your hearts are good, but even with good hearts you have done a bad thing." Later, at a discussion in La Junta, a Zuni community member said, "These gods are powerful, and they do not belong to you." In Zuni culture, religious objects and practices are only for those who have earned the right to take part. This happens after following special ways and prayers passed down for many generations. A Koshare's view on this event is shared in the book Behind the Zuni Masks.
In May 1972, hundreds of Native Americans protested an event in Topeka, Kansas. This event was hosting the Koshare Dancers. The protesters included members of the American Indian Movement (AIM). They were angry that the Koshare Dancers were hired instead of a real Native American drum and dance group from Mayetta. The protesters wanted to stop the dancers, who were being paid $2,000. They even planned to break the Koshare's drum. Five members of AIM managed to get past the police officers guarding the dancers. They didn't reach the stage, and at least one AIM member was hurt by officers. AIM felt they had gotten the public's attention. This "Indians vs. Scouts" event caused embarrassment for the city of Topeka.
In 2015, the Koshare's Winter Night dances were canceled. This happened after the Cultural Preservation Office (CPO) of the Hopi Nation asked the troop to stop performing their versions of Hopi and Pueblo Native American dances. Leigh Kuwanwisiwma, the director of the CPO, learned about the program in 2016. He watched videos of some performances online and was upset. He said the performers were "mimicking our dances, but they were insensitive, as far as I'm concerned." The Koshare have since started their performances again. They have not had more talks with Native American groups about this issue.
See also
- Otero Junior College
