Ponderosa Middle School students were treated to a lively and meaningful cultural assembly Monday as members of the Wocus Boyz shared traditional Native dances, teachings and songs.
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The group, representing The Klamath Tribes, visited four Klamath County and City Schools in one day, ending their schedule at Ponderosa, where students capped off the assembly by joining in a group dance on the gym floor.
Leading the visit was Chloe Say, Tribal Liaison for Klamath Basin Behavioral Health, who works closely with Native students across the region.
“We try to come when schools ask us, whether it’s sharing dances or even bringing in materials like basketry or beadwork so students can see and feel what that’s like,” Say said.
Ponderosa students watched several styles of traditional dance, including jingle dress, fancy shawl, traditional, and grass dancing.
“The jingle dress is a healing dress,” Say said. “Traditionally it has 365 cones, one for each day of the year. Every cone you add is a prayer. Today they’re made more contemporary, but they still carry that meaning.”
Say said the group enjoys most when students decide to take what she calls a “healthy risk” by stepping onto the floor to try a dance themselves.
“Sometimes they’re nervous, but when we can get kids out there experiencing something that makes us feel well, something that belongs to our culture, that’s what matters,” Say said. “We want to leave them with something they’ll remember.”
The visit was also an opportunity to highlight the monthly Native student gatherings hosted through Indian Education programs across the county. Students meet to explore culture, prevention education, peer connection and wellness.
“Culture is prevention,” Say said. “We want students to know their community, support each other, and have access to resources when they need them.”
Ponderosa seventh grader Sky Rondeau-Blacksun is also a part of the Wocus Boyz, along with his older brother, River, a freshman at Klamath Union.
“Sky Rondo goes to school here at Ponderosa. He usually sings with the drum group, but he wasn’t able to come today. We have a lot of tribal youth involved, and that is what is great about today, it is that students were able to learn more from us,” Say said. “We had a student come up to us even and ask if we are on Spotify and it is great to see how the music inspired them.”
