The Fancy War Dance, originating from the Ponca and Comanche Nations in Oklahoma, carries a profound historical legacy. Initially a slower dance exclusively performed by war veterans, it underwent a shift in the late 1800s, becoming a dynamic and contemporary style that captivated audiences in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. Today, the Fancy Dance remains a vital thread in the fabric of Native American culture, with dancers expressing reverence for the horse through their intricate and lively movements. This ongoing photo project chronicles the journey of Canku One Star, a Men's Fancy War Dancer, who graces colonized sacred locations in America, where Indigenous history has been forgotten. Through his dance, Canku serves as a poignant reminder that we constantly tread upon Native land, irrespective of our location within America. This ongoing project aims to narrate the story of the Fancy Dance while illuminating its cultural significance, tracing its evolution from a slower war dance to a vibrant contemporary style that pays homage to the horse. While my own ancestors do not hail from indigenous backgrounds in America, I recognize the parallel narratives of erasure between my Taino Puerto Rican heritage and that of Native Americans. This project serves as a heartfelt opportunity to learn, pay homage, and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples.

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The Fancy War Dance, originating from the Ponca and Comanche Nations in Oklahoma, carries a profound historical legacy. Initially a slower dance exclusively performed by war veterans, it underwent a shift in...

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Canku One Star looks out at the Black Hills in South Dakota, a sacred site for the Dakota, Nakota and Lakota people.
James Papakee, a Miswaki youth in our entourage, holds out two middle fingers across from Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on July 4, 2022.
Canku One Star prepares his footwear regalia in preparation of dancing at the Black Hills in South Dakota.
Canku One Star movement's mimic the fast movement of a horse at the Black Hills in South Dakota.
Canku One Star blends hip hop and contemporary dance to create his style of Fancy War Dance at the Black Hills in South Dakota.
Canku One Star adjusts his outfit as he exits a Fancy War Dance competition at a Powow at the Rosebud Reservation in Nebraska.
Canku One Star holds a horse at his ranch in Nebraska.
Tylan Bear and Canku One Star walk through the grounds at a Powwow on the Rosebud Reservation in Nebraska.
Canku One Star poses for a photo at the Badlands in South Dakota. Lakota people first called this area "mako sica", whose literal translation is “bad lands.”
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