Wahnee Descendants Pow-Wow History
The following story of the Wahnee Descendants Pow-Wow Family is retold by John David Wahnee as his father Ralph Wahnee is now deceased.
1976-1978: Ralph Wahnee discussed with his son John David Wahnee his feelings related to his love for and respect of his wife, Becky Wahnee, as well as his Wahnee family descendancy. He expressed his feelings for the Wahnee family members helping to carry on the Native American Church functions.
He spoke of his father, the late Shannon (Tah-do-quah) Wahnee and the various times Shannon served as a road man for the Church. He mentioned that his father composed numerous Comanche Native American Church songs which are used by members of the Church across Indian country to this day. He spoke with respect of his father traveling throughout Indian country leading Native American Church services. In addition, Ralph explained that his father took pride in teaching many tribes on how to run "Meetings" or Native American Church services properly. During this time, Ralph also expressed his love for his brothers and sisters who supported the Native American Church functions as well as other activities. His Brothers are: James, Thomas, William, Joe Sr., and Myers. And his Sisters include: Margaret and Florence.
Ralph Wahnee was one of the first members of the Wahnee family to fully embrace Pow-Wow activities and he devoted his interest to it. His experiences include: serving as Head Man Dancer, Arena Director, and attending numerous Pow-Wow dances abroad. He expressed his love for the big drum and the various Pow-Wow customs he had been exposed to. With these good thoughts in his mind, he explained to his son that he wanted to use the Pow-Wow Arena to bring together as many of the Wahnee Descendants as possible annually for the purpose of socializing as a family. In addition, he wanted the Wahnee Family Members to demonstrate their love and appreciation of their lineage and Comanche Heritage by hosting an annual Pow-Wow for the Comanche people. Ralph Wahnee named this Pow-Wow, the "Wahnee Descendants". He mentioned that he had discussed the concept of a Wahnee Descendants annual dance with several of his brothers and sisters. They encouraged him to set up the annual activity and pledged their support for the dance.
According to the late Ralph Wahnee, the inaugural Wahnee Descendants Pow-Wow was held at the Bigbow family dance ground known as "Tia-Piah Park" in June, 1978. The dance was supported by Wahnee family members.
1979: Ralph Wahnee informed his son that he wanted the Wahnee Descendants to have it's own Pow-Wow song. He expressed that it was our Comanche way to have a song that could be used in the Pow-Wow arena when the family wanted to host Pow-Wow functions or "Give-Aways". Ralph Wahnee met with his close friend Jo Jo Lane, a member of the Pawnee Indian tribe, and provided him with tobacco and made the request that he compose the song that would be used as the Wahnee Descendants Family Pow-Wow song.
In June, 1980, Jo Jo Lane presented the song to the Wahnee Descendants at a Pow-Wow in Apache, Oklahoma. The Pow-Wow was being sponsored by the Comanche Gourd Clan in which Ralph Wahnee was serving as the Head Gourd Dancer. Ralph Wahnee, John David Wahnee, and family members that were present; presented gifts to Jo Jo Lane and his family for payment of respect to the Wahnee family for the song that was composed and presented.
My father, Ralph Wahnee made it clear that the Wahnee Descendants family song which was composed for him belongs to "all members" of the Wahnee Descendants who would like to use it.
Wahnee Descendants Logo
The original Wahnee Descendants logo was designed and painted by Mr. Leonard "Black Moon" Riddles in 1977 upon request of Ralph and John David Wahnee. The design was painted on white satin material with the letters "Wahnee Descendants" painted with a series of black and white eagle feathers as the lettering. The letters appear at 45° angles rising to the top-center of the design. In the center of the design is a clear tipi with a red and blue waterbird on each side of the tipi. There are also six men sitting inside the tipi with red and yellow flames blazing. To the left of the tipi is a black and white eagle feather fan with red plumes, a beaded handle, and fringe hanging off the bottom of the handle. To the right of the tipi, there is a yellow gourd with red horsehair and a partially beaded handle. The gourd has fringe hanging off the bottom of the handle as well. Both the fan and the gourd are tilted at 60° angles toward the tipi in the center of the logo.
The Original Wahnee Descendants Logo. The Original Wahnee Descendants Logo. (Scroll over the image)
The New Wahnee Descendants Logo. The New Wahnee Descendants Logo. (Scroll over the image)
As you can see, the new Wahnee Descendants logo was redesigned with the same tipi, fan, and gourd in place. Some artistic license was used in the new digitally redesigned version of the old logo. Color was added to the tipi and no matter how much I tried to recreate realistic looking feathers for the lettering, it just didn't look appealing. It was then decided to just display the lettering in a more modern fashion. Since our Wahnee family is well known for their involvement with the Native American Church or "Peyote Way" as Tommy Wahnee used to say, I decided to use peyote buttons on the main banner as seen on the top of the page. The Comanche words under the tipi on the new logo say: "oyetu nu na?numunuu" in english, this translates to: "To all my descendants/relations", again some artistic license was used here.
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