Diane Hawk Surgery Project


Diane Hawk Surgery Project Esevonene'ehne'e Buffalo Walking Woman	Read Update: 100 Pounds Later!
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
This site is now a historical record of Diane Hawk's extraordinary journey toward health. As you read the pages be aware that Diane Hawk is now alive, healthy, and living a life of purpose and productivity. Follow the steps of her journey . . .

Honor Dance for Diane Hawk
Donations to Benefit Surgery Fund
News Release: May 13, 2003
Published in the The Kingfisher Times and Free Press

Money is placed on the floor for Diane during a special Honor Dance song.

If you are Indian, you already know what happens at an Honor Benefit Dance. If you’re not, here’s the scoop. Young and old came to the dance on Sunday for Diane Hawk, and not only did everyone have a wonderful time, about $700 was raised to help Diane enter the hospital for life saving gastric by-pass surgery.

Raising money with a dance is an old-time tradition among Oklahoma tribes. Cheyennes and Arapahos do it with music, dance, good food, fun, jokes, and some tears, too. The Hawk Family knew their friends and relatives would gladly support them to the best of their ability, so they hired the Women’s Building at the Fairgrounds and prepared a big meal. If you like frybread, fried chicken, brisket, soup, potato salad and other tasty things too numerous to mention, you missed a great meal – for free! (Note: Not too late for hungry folks – there will be an Indian Taco sale this Friday in at the El Reno Fairgrounds to benefit the Hawk Surgery Fund.)

Diane’s sister Elouise Swallow got on the phone to find volunteer dancers and singers to serve as Head Staff for the Dance. Not forgetting that a good Master of Ceremonies and Arena Director are keys to success, the family enlisted J. R. Youngbear of Geary and Gerald Panana of Clinton. J. R. is the son of elders Clinton and Rena Rose Youngbear – longtime participants in Cheyenne ceremonial and cultural activities. Arena Director Panana is a minister in the community, and provided the invocation before the meal.

Kenny Siemens and crew drummed and sang with gusto, creating jet fuel for the dance. Wilma Blackowl Hamilton, former champion Fancy Dancer, served as Head Lady Dancer. Junior dancers Devon and William Wells and Victoria Woods were the Head Boy Dancers and Head Little Girl Dancer. From the Kingfisher area, the Greasy Leggins, a group of young Cheyenne and Arapaho children led by Irene Deer and Virginia Woods, put on their regalia and shook a leg for Grandma Diane.

The schedule for any dance follows a pattern. In the afternoon, Gourd Dancers prayerfully prepare the “ground” for the evening’s activities. These dancers shake gourd rattles and wave bird wing fans, stepping in place in time with the drum. After the Gourd Dancing ends, the Supper Break begins with a prayer. After the meal, the main dance begins.

Every Native American dance starts with a Flag Song. Across the across the U.S. Indians have always upheld this tradition – even during the times when patriotism wasn’t so popular. Songs and dances in honor of Soldiers and Veterans are also sung, as well as a Memorial Song that allows everyone to remember and perhaps shed a tear for any loved one who has passed away.

Overall, more than 50 songs from the Cheyenne and Arapaho repertoire were sung – with extraordinary musicianship that did not let up throughout the whole dance. While songs are sung, the people dance, and this is a kind of prayer. Special songs were sung for each one of the Head Dancers, giving that staff member’s family and friends a chance to come out to the dance floor and support their loved one by dancing. Then each person would place an offering of a dollar in a bowl as part of the fund raising. Raffles were held for prizes such as handmade purses, shawls, baskets of groceries, jewelry, and even a George Foreman grill.

Many small giveaways took place during the dances. People would lead out an elder or treasured friend, placing them in an honored spot, and put money at their feet – an invitation to others to join in the honoring. Others followed that example, and during the evening several piles of money gathered on the floor in front of well-loved individuals. One such offering was made for Johnny Whiteshirt, a respected Arapaho elder, who sang beautifully with the drum and made several inspirational orations on Diane’s behalf. Another special honor was given to Burton Hawk, who immediately placed the money that was dropped at his feet into the fund for his wife Diane.

Some of the girls who sing behind the drum, including wife Irene Deer, decided to play a trick on Chiefie Deer - a fellow noted in the community for his comic antics. They must have been setting some old scores when they dragged him up during one of the dances, and with mock solemnity, placed an offering of old Easter eggs, a couple of soda cans, and a single cigarette. Poor Chiefie had to endure this abuse while waves of laughter rolled up as each item was placed at his feet. After the song ended, Chiefie followed tradition in shaking the hands of all who had so “generously” given in his honor.

On the serious side, Daniel Prairie Chief danced his heart out throughout the evening, vigorously shaking his rattle and stepping around artistically. Diane Hawk said, “Daniel made everyone to want to get up and dance, and I truly appreciate the love and support shown to me in this way.”

Highlighting the dance were the frequent give-aways of blankets, shawls, and grocery baskets. The give-aways were given by the Head Staff and the Hawk Family in appreciation of everyone coming out to support Diane in this cause. Diane’s case has the potential of benefiting Native Americans with diabetes all over the U.S. as her doctors promote the advantages of the roux-en-y surgery as a cure for morbidly obese diabetics. Diane, who was in happy tears for most of the evening, stated, “I was overwhelmed with the love and good words passed to me at the Honor Dance. My family was wonderful!”

Burton Hawk donated a horse for a raffle and the winning ticket was drawn at the Honor Dance. The winner was Sarah Hernandez of Wellington, Texas. George Akeens of El Reno won a beautiful handmade cradleboard made by Elouise Swallow and Consuelo Hawk. The Hawk Family continues to work to raise the money toward their goal of $20,000. Donations can be made to the Diane Hawk Surgery Fund. For more information, see buffalowalkingwoman.com.