“The Good Medicine” event hosted recently on the Campus of the University of Wyoming was dedicated to the students, faculty, and community members who were honored for major accomplishments. The ceremony included the naming of all those receiving awards, cultural dancing and even appearances from famous members of the Native American Community.
“Here you guys are just making it happen and it’s a beautiful thing or you’re inspiring, you know more than you know, inspiring your community or inspiring your family back home,” said Tatanka Means, a famous comedian and actor in the country and speaker at the event, regarding the honored individuals in the ceremony.
On Nov. 3, 2023, Gary “Litefoot” Davis, a renowned actor and rapper across the country, opened the event. Davis did not attend the University but was there to support fellow members of his community.
Davis described “good medicine” as the sharing in a community. Thus, giving the meaning of the event’s title and reasoning for the following events to be conducted as such. The first half of the event was an award ceremony dedicated to those with major accomplishments, Davis served as MC for the entire event.
The University of Wyoming has many scholarship opportunities available for Native American students, and according to the program handed out before the event, a total of 25 students were recognized for the scholarships they received, some students even received awards for multiple scholarships.
The University also announced two new scholarship opportunities: “The Betty Mills Freedman Native American Scholarship” and “The Judith Antell Research Fellowship for Native American Students.” Both scholarships were named after women who dedicated much of their lives to creating education opportunities to the tribal communities, as told in a brief history by the presenters.
Along with the honored students were members of the faculty recognized for their leadership and remarkable members of the Native American community for their impact. Two Native American veteran alumni leaders, John St. Clair and John Washakie, were also acknowledged for their work at the university.
A lifetime achievement award was given as well during this ceremony to Drusilla Goulda, who was from the Idaho Shoshone Nation and was recognized for creating a way to have a written Shoshone language.
Following the awards ceremony was Means, sharing his gift for comedy and the meaning of “good medicine” in his perspective with connection to laughter.
“Sometimes you’re needing to laugh about wanting to laugh, sometimes you just have been holding it in because whatever reason you know, and you haven’t been able to laugh and sometimes when we come to a comedy show we just start crying, tears coming down because you’re laughing so hard. It’s healing and it’s medicine,” Means said.
At the end of the awards ceremony, there was a display of culture. Dancers appeared and flooded the stage in ornate and brightly colored clothing, feathers, and jewelry. Vocalists and drummers commenced in music from the side of the stage.
George Abeyta spoke before each dance, describing the significance and title of the dances. He explained that the first set of dances would have occurred at “Pow Wows.” The dancers moved in the mesmerizing patterns of the “Prairie Chicken Dance, Jingle Dance, and Grass Dance.”
The entire event was dedicated to the recipients of all the scholarships and awards, and brought together community members to celebrate and experience the “good medicine” of culture.
