Hasinai Summer Youth Camp

This year, the Hasinai Summer Youth Camp was held from June 24-30, 2007, at the Caddo Nation Tribal Complex in Binger, Oklahoma. There were over 75 campers, youth leaders, counselors and instructors. Check in time began at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Everyone pitched their tents and camped out at the tribal dance ground and or the Cultural Building. Classes started bright and early Monday morning which included archery, loom beading, pottery making, bow making, traditional cooking and Caddo Language. The boys were taught Caddo songs while the girls were taught how to make dush-toohs, the traditional ribbon work worn by Caddo women when they dance and practiced Caddo dances.

The goal of the Hasinai Summer Youth Camp is to instill in our children an appreciation of and respect for their heritage. Children leave the camp more knowledgeable of their tribal traditions and proud of the pottery, regalia, and beadwork they've created. We feel that this helps promote self-esteem in our youth and prepares them to better succeed in their other activities. Our children are also given the chance to act as group leaders, thus better preparing them to be the future leaders of the tribe and the larger community.

---

"BELOW ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE WEEK LONG CAMP"

           Archery Class







Students practicing their archery skills.

          Loom Beading



The students decide what design they want and the colors to use before starting to bead on their loom.

           Dush-tooh Class




The girls enjoy working on their dush-toohs (a traditional ribbon work worn by Caddo women when they dance).

        Fry Bread Class

Traditional cooking classes was enjoyed by all. The campers were taught to make many of the traditional foods served at Caddo dances and dinner. These included habushko, meat and corn soup, hominy, grape dumplings, and fry bread.

On the last day of Cultural Camp, the students held a traditional dance. Due to the rain, this year's dance was held at the Cultural Building. This dance gave the campers a chance to put to use what they learned in their classes, as well as an opportunity for the girls to wear their dush-toohs during the Turkey Dance which was lead by one of our youth leaders. During supper break, the students served a traditional meal to their families and guest. After supper break, the students demonstrated many of the Caddo social dances such as the Fish Dance, Stirrup Dance, Duck Dance, Bear Dance, Bell Dance, and other dances. Parents and other friends joined the campers during some of the Social dances.

        Esther Crowder

Ms Crowder, always ready to take care of any medical situation that might occur.

The Hasinai Youth Camp was funded largely by donations and the participation of many volunteers. The organizers would like to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in and attended the fund raiser we held throughout the year in support of the camp. We would also like to acknowledge the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, for their support of Hasinai Summer Youth Camp.

The Hasinai Summer Youth Camp is held each summer near the end of June. All youth are welcome to participate in the camp. For more information, contact Shirley Gouge at (405) 656-2344 or (405) 457-6338.