Delaware Gourd Society to host 15th Annual Coffeyville Gathering and Indian Art Market 

The Lenape (Delaware) Gourd Dance Society will serve as the host gourd society at the 15^th Annual Coffeyville Gathering and Indian Art Market on April 18-19.

The Lenape Gourd Dance Society was given their blessing to organize in 1994 by the late Stanley Sleeper, then head of the Arapaho Star Hawk Society. Don and the late Betty Wilson were instrumental in the organization of the Society. Don is a member of the Star Hawk Society and also a member of the Tia Piah Society. His service career is 22 yrs long and includes service with both the Marines and the Army.  The Lenape Gourd Dance Society has co-hosted such events such as: Copan Pow-wow, Copan, OK; Oklahom Indian Nations Powwow, Concho, OK; Bearfoot Park Powwow, Canton, OK; NATO Powwow, Miami, OK; Jr. Miss Indian Pageant, Oklahoma City, OK; Delaware War Mothers Powwow, Dewey, OK; and other benefits and dances. Honoring our Elders and Veterans as well as the fellowship of dancing together as a group in the proper way are strong features of the Society.

The 15^th Annual Coffeyville Gathering and Indian Art Market is free and open to the public.  The Gathering begins on Friday, April 18 with a Stomp Dance from 7-11 p.m.  The event continues on Saturday, April 19 with a Gourd Dance and Powwow starting at 3 p.m.  All events are held in the Nellis Gym of Coffeyville Community College (CCC) at 604 W. 11 St. (Hwy. 166) in Coffeyville, Kan.  Vendor space is free with a donation.  The Gathering is presented by the CCC Native American Leadership Association and the Coffeyville Public Schools Title VIII and JOM Indian Education programs.  Coffeyville Indian Education is funded by two federal grants: Office of Indian Education for $84,101 and Johnson-O'Malley Cherokee Nation Co-Partner Program for $8,500. 

For more information about the Gathering and to reserve a vendor space call 620-252-7135, 620-252-6426 or e-mail kimlay@coffeyville.edu or vm@coffeyvilleindianed.org.