Drumkeeper

THE STORY
starts over 100 years ago, when the Kaa’nze (Kaw) moved from Kansas to territory in northern Oklahoma. The Kaa’nze people were few and they could no longer maintain their traditions, including the I’Loshka Dance, so they passed on these traditions to their Osage cousins.

OSAGE DRUMKEEPERS
A group of Kaa’nze tribesman made sacred drums which they presented to two groups of Osages. The tribal leaders of the Pawhuska (Xa-Xo-Li) District selected a “Drumkeeper,” Ben Mashunkashey in 1884. The Hominy (Zon-Zo-Li) District did likewise, and the tradition of the annual I’Lon-shka among the Osages began.

MODERN REVIVAL
While the Kaws participated as guests in these war dances, they never forgot the significance of the tradition to their own people. Around 2002, elder Elmer Clark explored reviving the Kaw I’Loshka. Kaw men were called together, a Drumkeeper was named; a Head Singer was appointed, and a drum was made.

FIRST I'LOSHKA
On August 4, 2005, the first modern Kaw I’Loshka was held at Washunga, OK. The
first dance did not have many participants, mainly Kaa’nze men, Ponca men, and male
members of the Osage Pawhuska and Grayhorse districts, but many spectators attended, and this new gathering generated excitement.

PASSING THE DRUM
The revival of the dance allowed for the rebirth of another tradition, Passing the Drum. In July 2008, the Joshua Bellmard Family, the first drum keeper, announced that C. Colt Donelson, grandson of Elmer Clark, would be the new drumkeeper. Colt had been groomed 22 years for this honor, and he undertook his role with the help of family and community.

PAYING FOR THE DRUM
Colt was humbled to be chosen for the position and showed his gratitude at the beginning of this summer’s I’Loshka by “Paying” for the drum. He honored the former drumkeeper and those families and individuals who helped him during the year with horses, Pendleton blankets, traditional dance clothes, and other items of cultural significance. Invited dance
districts, committees, organizations and individuals as far away as California came to dance with him.

I'LOSHKA
The first day and the first four songs of the night during the pow-wow are I’Loshka, with men only dancing. The I’Loshka drum is brought into the arena, the calling song is sung, and four songs with “tails” follow. The songs have been passed down, and have their origins among tribes in the area. One might hear those sung as far back as the time the drum was first presented to the Osage. The I’Loshka and following pow-wow is unique to the Kaw, and a true testament to the will of the Kaw people. They have realized the return of the drum, and an important tradition to their society.

The following contributed to the text of this article:
Amanda Wamego Buffalohead (Kaw), The Kaw Nation, and Unidentified Man (Osage).

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