Colorado Indian Market

The annual gathering was an opportunity to pick up a couple of unique gifts for family.

There was a special treat at this gathering.

Tom Ware of Blues Nation Band was at the market with his American Indian Music and Dance show.

Tom explained to the audience that one of the purposes of the performance was to create awareness and mostly to dispel myths about indigenous peoples, especially those accredited to Hollywood film-makers.

He mimicked the often depicted mannerism of smacking one’s lips while “whooping” and said, “No Indian would ever do that, why would you go around smacking your own lips? We’ve got better things to do with our lips.”

His oratory was not entirely humorous and he delved into a bit of commentary about the current political climate with the campaigning politicians buzzing all around vying for votes. “Watch out for those guys coming around asking to shake your hand.”

Very critical of the war in the middle East, he said, “ you might not agree with me but, we need to end this war and bring our kids back home.”

This drew some applause from the packed audience.

It was nice to see someone working the audience – getting a message across.

What’s the old adage “ the medium is the message.”

Tom Ware was working it.
So were the Danzantes from Mexico known as Ehecatl, a Nahuatl word meaning “wind” a name the group lives up to as they performed their rendition of the ancient danza azteca.

Their oratory was also about dispelling myths regarding the Nahuatl culture.

Fotos by Antonio Sánchez