The Koshare Story

 

The Koshare story began in February 1933, when two boys called a group of their friends together for a meeting. The boys were highly interested in the Native American culture and meet regularly to study this beautiful culture. Buck Burshears, the boys' Scoutmaster, helped to guide the boys on weekends while he was off from college in Colorado Springs.

In September 1933, the boys staged their first performance in the basement of St. Andrew Episcopal Church. After the show a local surgeon, Dr. R. S. Johnston, gave the boys five dollars for their efforts. The boys felt like millionaires in this period of the Great Depression, as money was scarce and dreams dwindled. To these first boys, a who new world was discovered, as they began to imagine the possibilities of their dancing feet.

Over the years the Koshares were inspired and learned the Native ways from people like Ralph Hubbard, Carl Parlasca, Ernest Thompson Seton, Dan Beard, Julian Solomon, Ben Hunt and hundreds of Native American friends. Through personal acquaintances and through their books, all these men were early inspirations to these young boys and their club.

Through the Koshares' efforts - directly and indirectly - they have inspired and created an interest and love of Indian lore, not only to their own members and familites, but to boys and leaders all over the world. Newspapers, magizines, books and movies have told and retold the story of the group of boys who danced their way to fame in feathers and paint. Over the years, stories appeared in such publications as Reader's Digest, National Geographic, Time, Life, Boy's Life and newspapers around the world. The Koshares were featured in the Grantland Rice movie One Hundred Unusual Boys, the Universal International made movie High Colorado and in the PBS special Koshare. Val Gendron's award winning book, Behind the Zuni Mask, was a great tribute to the Koshares as well as the 1975 book written by Jack Kelly, Koshare.

Perhaps the most important aspect about the Koshare organization is, first, the opportunity it has given and continues to give to hardworking and dedicated boys and girls to see the world and meet interesting people. Secondly, but just as important, has been the privilege to learn and perform for millions of people the beautiful songs, dances and crafts of the American Indian.