Drums of History: Celebrating Culture at the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Festival

In 1867, a Peace Treaty was signed between the U.S. government and several Plains Native tribes, including the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Apache, and Comanche. An area of religious significance to the Cheyenne, along Medicine Lodge Creek, served as the site where the treaty was signed. Like most treaties between the U.S. government and Native peoples, it was not an end to violence.

Fast forward to 1917, in what is now Medicine Lodge, where citizens wanted to commemorate the historical significance of the Treaty of Medicine Lodge. It took the committee ten years to plan and hold the first historical pageant in 1927. Today, the pageant is held every three years, with the next scheduled for 2027. While the larger pageant isn’t held annually, the town of Medicine Lodge continues to celebrate and honor its past with the Peace Treaty Festival, held each September across multiple venues in town.

One of the events is the annual Intertribal Powwow, hosted at the Powwow Grounds in the newly formed Memorial Peace Park. The Powwow offers visitors a glimpse into Native culture and traditions. The emcees did a wonderful job sharing stories and explaining traditions of a culture that is too often misrepresented. The Friday night events began with introductions of the Head Staff. As singers gathered around the drum in the center of the arena, the unforgettable beat began.

First was the Gourd Dance, a tradition rich with history. A Kiowa story tells of a young man who became separated from his tribe. After many days of travel, he heard unusual singing coming from the other side of a hill. As he crested the hill, he saw a Red Wolf singing and dancing on its hind legs. The man listened to the songs throughout the afternoon and night. By morning, the Wolf spoke to him and told him to take the dance and songs back to the Kiowa people.

In 1890, the U.S. government began banning Kiowa cultural ceremonies. By the late 1930s, the Gourd Dance had largely fallen out of practice. The Gourd Dance along with others performed at the Peace Treaty today are keeping traditions alive while also educating those who venture to learn. Photos and article by Tanner Colvin