Native American Indian Ruy Vallejo

Rudy Vallejo, a native American Indian, will be at the library to share his Native American culture through song and dance on Friday, September 12 at 2 pm.  

Vallejo did not grow up with the Kickapoo tribe but often visited his family there. When he was nine years old, his grandfather gave him the Indian name, “Ship-she-wah-no,” which means “Vision of a Lion.” The name is of Potawatomi origin, as is his tribe. Kickapoo means "he who moves about." Potawatomi means "people of the fire."

There are two other Kickapoo tribes in the U.S., the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. There are also Kickapoo in Mexico, where Vallejo’s father was from. His mother’s family was of the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation from Kansas.
 
Vallejo’s maternal grandmother and grandfather (of Kickapoo descent) were sent to boarding schools designed to “take the Indian out of the Indian” and given the western names of “Susie and Frank.” Vallejo acknowledges the severe struggles encountered by Native children who were forced to abandon their culture and language and thinks it’s important to “overcome those times and keep going.” Sharing native culture and history during events such as this allows Native Americans opportunities to do just that.
 
Vallejo has been teaching the Eagle Dance to young and old for years in order to preserve and promote Native culture and history.  He treasures the memories of his grandmother.   “My grandmother inspired me to follow in her footsteps and carry on the tradition of dancing, and we need to teach our young people these values and traditions before we pass away and they are lost forever.”
 
At one time, Vallejo said, Indian tribes could trade eagle feathers for a horse. His grandfather  taught him how to clean eagle feathers by dipping them twice in a river. Today, he still goes to the Mississippi River to clean the eagle feathers he owns.

Members of federally recognized tribes are allowed to own eagle feathers because of their great cultural and religious significance. However, even eligible Native Americans must get a permit to receive and own them. They are allowed to wear, use, inherit, and give eagle feathers to other Native Americans but they cannot give them to non-Natives.
 
SPECIAL NOTE:  Mr. Vallejo will be putting up his tent outside the library—weather permitting.
 
Please note that this program will be held on a Friday, which is not our “regular” program day. 

This program will provide insight for adults and will be entertaining for children.