Butte College Big Time 2023
In 2016 the Konkows along with other outside tribes formed a traditional dance group for the first time in over 100 years. With the change in the tribal government, it didn't last long with lack of participation and knowledge being one of the main reasons. It wasn't until 2020 when the new leadership the Vice Chair stepped up and formed another dance group and created language classes. It was what the youth needed at that time and by the time they had their first dance there was 4 singers and 10 dancers (male and female mixed). As the years passed and the dance group got more recognition, they went from a single dance in Concow at a music festival to getting invitations to join other tribes at their traditional ceremonies. This was a great honor and such a huge step for the tribe not only socially but spiritually. The dancing brought back traditions that were almost lost through the years. The girls and women have learned to make and gather stuff to make their regalia batsawi and paswani (head pieces) and they reason they wear and use it. The boys also have done the same, learning how to make feather capes and flicker bands to wear during the ceremony. While learning about their culture they also would implement their language making a connection to what they were making, even though a lot of things were lost in time during the genocide of the tribes there was finally a rebirth of the tribe’s culture and beliefs. Since then, the Konkow have been dancing year around traditional and non-traditional for the public, making appearances at schools and events and telling their story to anyone wanting to learn. That they have always been here and will always be. They are filled with so much culture and knowledge of their past and elders it's almost like the gap in time never happened and they never stopped their ways.
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