Turkey dance facts for kids
The turkey dance is a very important traditional dance for the Caddo people. Caddo women perform the turkey dance. Caddo men play drums and sing songs that tell stories from Caddo history.
This special dance happens in the afternoon. It finishes when the sun sets, just as turkeys go back to their sleeping places. Long ago, Caddo villages were often built near where turkeys slept. This was because turkeys made noise when people came near, acting like natural guards.
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History of the Turkey Dance
The turkey dance is very old. There are different stories about how it began. One story says a Caddo hunter was in the forest. He heard singing and saw a group of female turkeys dancing in a circle around a male turkey. The hunter watched carefully and remembered the dance. He then shared it with his tribe.
In the 1700s, Spanish visitors saw Hasinai women doing this dance. They performed it when their warriors returned to the village. Even today, Caddo women dance with a special cane. This cane was given to the tribe by the Spanish before the year 1809.
The Caddo people have always kept the turkey dance alive. It became even more popular after World War II.
How the Dance is Performed
On a day of Caddo dances, the turkey dance is usually the first one. The dance has several parts. In the past, women danced around a pole. During the third part, the women gather close to the men who are drumming in the middle of the dance area. In the last part, the women dancers get to choose male partners to dance with them. The dance ends with a flag song. Then, the US flag is lowered to honor Caddo veterans. The movements of the women in the dance might have been inspired by how turkeys move.
Today, turkey dances often happen at the Caddo National Tribal Complex. This is located in Binger, Oklahoma. Two groups, the Hasinay Society and the Caddo Cultural Club, often perform turkey dances.
What Dancers Wear
Caddo women wear special clothes for the dance. These include handmade dresses and colorful blankets. They also wear beautiful beadwork. A special item is a dush-toh. This is a flat piece decorated with shiny brass or mirrors and long, flowing ribbons. The dresses are long, reaching the ankles. They have ribbons sewn around the skirt. The blouses match the skirts in color and have wide, flared shoulders. Women also wear full-length aprons over their skirts.
The Songs of the Dance
There are 52 Caddo turkey dance songs still sung today. These songs tell about important Caddo historical events. They are sung in the many different ways the Caddo language is spoken. Many songs talk about brave military actions. But they all begin with stories about how the Caddo people were created. One song even tells how Caddo Lake was formed overnight. As Cecile Elkins Carter wrote, "The dances celebrate Caddo survival."
