Our culture is rich and diverse.
History tells us that the land we now stand on has been inhabited by the natives, the people we should thank for protecting and defending the land and nature.
However, diversity should not mean division.
In fact, it should be something to unite and strengthen us together as a nation – despite ethnicity, color, race, generation, gender, and class. And any story that brings the diverse cultures into unison is always a story worth telling.
So, when this video of a US Marine joining a tribal dance in Oklahoma went viral, it was all for good reasons.
The dance is part of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s yearly Powwow event that honors the heritage and Marine culture.
The Iowa Tribe calls themselves Bah Kho-Je or “People of the Grey Snow” because their dwellings look grey when covered with fire-smoked snow during the winter. There are two entities of the Iowa Tribe: in White Cloud, Kansas, and the other in Perkins, Oklahoma.
For that year’s event, they invited US Marine Lance Corporal Marland Trey Kent.
He felt honored to carry out the American flag during the event’s Grand Entry. Then, he joined the tribe for a powerful dance.
But what the people didn’t know that this was a father-son dance.
The dance started with Vincent Kent, and then Trey joined in. They danced with the beat as the tribe banged and clanged their instruments. Behind them, members of the tribe followed dressed in both traditional clothing and uniforms.
This dance was a “changing of the guard.”
You can see how Vincent led the way, then let Trey pass behind him once before allowing his son to lead the rest of the dance. This is how the Native Americans do it in their tribal dance.
They didn’t even practice this at all!
It turns out both men are dancers of the tribe. Vincent Kent said:
“We did not practice this dance because we are both dancers from the Ponca War Dance Society. That’s how he come busted a move like he did!”
People were impressed with the performance, even those who just saw it through YouTube.
It’s apparent that a lot of people appreciate this Trey Kent’s gesture of dancing with his tribe in his Marine uniform.
While others expressed their respect and gratitude to the Native Americans as a whole.
It is not every day that you see this kind of unity.
This may be an odd pair and picture in the eyes of others. However, this is a heartwarming reminder of how we should treasure our roots and history for many of us. One should never forget where they belong.
They should look back to their past with gratitude because these are the people that made them who they are.
Salute to Lance Corporal Kent for showing us that.
Watch the full video of their powerful performance below!
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