TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – With tears in Ahyoka Youngdeer’s eyes, she told her audience, “We’ve come a long ways.”
In a room initially filled with the sound of shakers, the beat of many feet, and chants of songs, the Tahlequah First United Methodist Church Auxiliary Building June 15 fell quiet. Then came voices raised in approval, as Youngdeer stepped down from the stage after expressing appreciation for all who attended. She and everyone affiliated with the “Tahlequah Two-Spirit Celebration: Symposium, Meal, and Stomp Dance,” created a space for those identifying as two-spirit and LGBTQ+ to feel welcome.
Ahyoka Youngdeer, a committee member, said the symposium and stomp dance went better than she imagined it would.
“I know there has been a lot of progress here and I can also recognize that Tahlequah itself had been a little bit of an island, where people like myself can come,” Youngdeer said.
A few months ago, Youngdeer said, she was approached by Two-Spirit Celebration Project Committee Chair Dr. Jonathan Hook and his committee about an event to recognize LGBTQ+ and two-spirit individuals. The culmination of the meetings was a day-long event featuring a meal, symposium, storytelling, and a stomp dance open to the public.
Coming off the heels of Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin’s declaration of June as Pride Month for the tribe, Youngdeer said it felt like a full turnaround, as two-spirit people are not often talked about in Native culture.
“I hope if there are two-spirit people who came to this event, who were unsure they have a place in society, and ceremonial communities, I hope they realize they do,” Youngdeer said. “A lot of communities are still against it, but that’s because as Cherokees, we still have a lot to unlearn from colonization, from this tool that was used to erase us, because we’re still part of the community, and we’re not going anywhere.”
Several hours prior to the stomp dance, a symposium was held at the Tahlequah Public Library, where several talks were offered, with topics ranging from two-spirit people in traditional Cherokee society, to bullying and harassment, to a political discussion on LGBTQ+ bills and legislation.
Jackie Eagle, Intercultural Partnership Committee member, said having information available was exciting for her, especially since such discussions are often hard to find.
“I think the thing I am hoping people get is just a better understanding of who the LGBTQ community is and how we belong here,” Eagle said. “A lot of us are born and raised around this area and grew up here. We never really felt like we belonged until recently, so my biggest hope is to get more information and understanding to the larger community here that we do belong, and we always have.”
A free Indian taco meal was provided before the stomp dance, with Tahlequah First United Methodist Pastor Shana Dry taking the microphone to issue an apology. Dry talked about how the history of the Methodist church is intertwined with Indigenous people during the Trail of Tears and at other times in the past.
“Today we acknowledge and address the wrongs committed against the Cherokee and other Indigenous communities, many of which were perpetuated or condoned by the church during some of the most tragic episodes in American history,” Dry said. “We honor the resilience of the Cherokee people and all Indigenous communities who have carried their stories and their pain across generations. We recognize the courage it takes to confront a past marred by injustice and suffering.”
Dry said the church acknowledged how it and the broader institution had failed to stand against injustices toward Indigenous people.
“The Tahlequah United Methodist Church sincerely apologizes for the role we played in the suffering endured by the Cherokee and other Indigenous peoples,” Dry said. “We regret the times when the church prioritized institutional protection over the the well-being and dignity of individuals and communities. We are deeply sorry for the times we did not listen to, or acknowledge, the experiences and wounds of those affected by these injustices.”
Dry said the church has pledged to build relationships, support Indigenous initiatives, and promote healing and reconciliation.
Youngdeer said she appreciated the sentiments from Dry and appreciated the church providing the space for the stomp dance.
“I believe personally that actions speak louder than words. I believe what people do. I am skeptical what people say, but I know personally I have witnessed [Dry] for years – I’m a former NSU student, and every week she was taking care of students on that campus. Her actions speak to the words she spoke,” Youngdeer said. “I think it’s very important for people to watch people’s actions and not just [listen] to their words.”
J.P. Johnson, Squirrel Ridge Ceremonial Ground second chief and Youngdeer’s brother, said most people who think of Native people dancing will automatically picture a powwow rather than a stomp dance. Johnson said offering both Native and non-Native people a chance to see a stomp dance will help dispel stereotypes and misconceptions.
“It’s good for them to see that it’s not so spectacular,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing fancy or fantastic about it. I suppose it’s a little more about unity and us being together and all of that balance that comes with it.”