Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma

The Tonkawa Tribe will hire a project coordinator to organize classes for Tonkawa youth and adults in traditional song, dance, regalia making, games, and language. Tribal instructors will lead gender appropriate classes for youth during an established afterschool program, reaching 50 children ages 6-18. Classes for girls will include shawl and dress making, dancing, and singing. Classes for boys will include drum making and playing, dancing, and singing. Multigenerational classes of the hand game will teach math skills such as counting and keeping score, and language classes will be offered to adults. The project will help both youth and adults learn about their tribal history, thus keeping the language and the culture alive.