Augustus McDonald portrait dedicated at Fancy Dance Casino

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Augustus McDonald portrait dedicated at Fancy Dance Casino

Tue, 08/16/2022 - 02:16
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By CALLEY LAMAR calley@poncacitynews.com

Members of the Ponca Business Committee, Ponca Enterprise Gaming, LLC Board, and the family of the late Augustus Hurley “Gus” McDonald or “Shon’ge Ska” (White Horse), gathered at the Fancy Dance Casino located off I-35 on Sunday, Aug. 14 to dedicate a portrait of the McDonald that will hang in the Fancy Dance Casino.

Ponca Business Committee Chairman Oliver Littlecook Sr. opened up the dedication with a welcome and prayer. Ponca Enterprise Gaming, LLC Chairman Daniel Sherron provided a Fancy Dance Casino update, and then members of McDonald’s family spoke at the event sharing stories about him before unveiling the portrait.

Native American dances and religious ceremonies were banned by the Code of Indian Offenses of 1883. As such, ceremonies and traditional dances went underground to avoid government detection.

The Fancy Dance was created by Ponca Tribe members in the 1920s and 1930s as an attempt to preserve their culture and religion.

McDonald is credited as an originator of the modern day Fancy Dance. In 1926, McDonald was crowned the inaugural World Champion Fancy Dancer at the Haskell Institute following a dance competition in which tribal nations were allowed to send one participant to represent them.

This win earned the Ponca Nation the right to host the World Championship Fancy Dance competition perpetually and is always held at the tribe’s Annual Celebration typically held the last weekend in August. This year’s celebration will be held from Aug. 25 to Aug. 28 in White Eagle, Oklahoma.