Song signals opening of the 2009 Oklahoma State Fair
BY BRYAN PAINTER
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Published: September 18, 2009
"Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain? Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?”
As the lyrics flowed from
Alex Hall of
Edmond, the 2009
Oklahoma City Indian princesses signed the words.
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IF YOU GO
Oklahoma STATE FAIR
Gates open at 8 a.m. daily through Sept. 27. Exhibit buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Outdoor exhibits run 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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Miss Indian Oklahoma City
Brianna Chavez, a Kiowa, Junior Miss Indian Oklahoma City, Aysia Kemble, a Ponca, and Little Miss Indian Oklahoma City
Gabrielle Padilla, a Chickasaw, signed "Colors of the Wind” and the national anthem during opening ceremonies of the 2009
Oklahoma State Fair on Thursday at the 14 Flags Plaza.
The skies were a little gray. It didn’t matter. The ceremony carried plenty of energy as Hall sang, the princesses in tribal regalia signed and the
Capitol Hill High School Naval Junior
ROTC presented the colors.
I learned about the Indian princesses role in the opening ceremony through
Shirley Wapskineh, director of the Changing Winds Cultural Society.
The purpose of the organization is to provide an opportunity for Indian youth to experience leadership roles in the community and to create an awareness of the potential of American Indian youth as future leaders.
Chavez, 17, of Moore, had been a spectator before, watching other Indian princesses sign at the state fair. Thursday was her opportunity.
"I was excited that I actually get to do this now,” she said. "It shows too that we really want to keep our heritage alive. Whenever I do sign language, usually you can tell in the facial expressions, that I really get into the song and care about what we’re doing.”
And even though a crowd gathered for the opening ceremony, Kemble, 11, of Oklahoma City, said she focuses on her hands and the signs.
Padilla, 9, lives in Ada but lived in
Bethany when she became Little Miss Indian Oklahoma City. She enjoys rehearsing songs to get the signing just right. Sometimes, for her, that means going over a song about 10 times, including "Colors of the Wind.”
What part of the song do you like the best?
Padilla replied, "tasting the berries” referring to the line "Come taste the sun-sweet berries of the earth.”
Kemble said she likes the song "Colors of the Wind” because "it’s very emotional, very moving.”
Hall feels the same and was glad to have the chance to sing while Chavez, Kemble and Padilla signed at Thursday’s ceremony.
"It’s got a great message and a great story,” Hall said. "It’s a beautiful song and I think the signing makes it just that much more amazing.”
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