Turkey dance

The turkey dance (Caddo: Núh Kaʔáwshan) is one of the most important traditional dances among Caddo people. In this dance, women perform the movements while men drum and sing songs. These songs tell stories about important events in Caddo history.

The dance usually happens in the afternoon and ends before sunset. This timing matches when turkeys go back to their roosts. Traditionally, the Caddo people set up their villages and camps close to these roost areas. They did this because turkeys would make noise if someone was coming near, acting like guards for the village.

History

The turkey dances have very old roots, and many stories tell how they began. One story says that a Caddo man was hunting in the forest when he heard singing. He found a group of turkey hens dancing in a circle around a male turkey. The man watched carefully and remembered the dance to show it to his tribe.

In the 1700s, Spanish missionaries wrote about Hasinai women performing the turkey dance when warriors came back to their village. Today, Caddo women still dance using a special ceremonial cane that the Spanish gave to the tribe long ago, before 1809. The dance stayed important through the years and became very popular again after World War II.

Dance

The turkey dance is an important traditional dance of the Caddo people. In the past, women would dance around a pole, and later they would gather around the men who were drumming in the middle of the dance area. The dance ends with a special song and the lowering of the US flag to honor Caddo veterans. The dance moves of the women might have been inspired by the way turkeys move.

Today, turkey dances usually take place at the Caddo National Tribal Complex dance grounds in Binger, Oklahoma. Both the Hasinay Society and the Caddo Cultural Club perform these dances.

Regalia

Caddo women wear special handmade dresses for the turkey dance. These dresses are long and have ribbons sewn around the skirt. They also wear matching blouses and full-length aprons over their skirts. In addition to their dresses, women wear beautiful beadwork, blankets, and special plaques called dush-tohs. These plaques are decorated with brass or mirrors and have flowing ribbons attached to them.

Songs

There are 52 songs for the turkey dance that are still sung today. These songs tell stories from Caddo history in many dialects of the Caddo language. They often talk about brave deeds in battles, but they also start with stories about how the Caddo people were created. One song even tells how Caddo Lake was made in just one night. As Cecile Elkins Carter says, "The dances celebrate Caddo survival."