Red Earth is a celebration of Native American culture that is held
in early June in Oklahoma City. The Grand Entry is a parade displaying the grandeur of native life manifested in the faces of age and
youth, the energy and beauty of dance, and the rhythmic beat of drums. 
As I watched the Grand Entry this year, I was struck by the faces of native Americans that whirled and danced past my camera lens. The face of the human being has always fascinated me because etched within its lines and hollows are written the lessons of the years. Although each face tells the story of an individual, in some ineffable fashion, each face is also part of a greater story that has endured throughout centuries. Science tells us that each one of us carry within us the genetic markers of our parents, our grandparents, our great-grandparents, our aunts and uncles, etc. Though grandparents may have died years ago, the shadows of their faces are seen within our eyes, our speech, and perhaps, our glances. During the Grand Entry of Red Earth, the faces of ancestors unseen were there in the faces of their heirs and issue. A story of strength and courage, wisdom and compassion, endurance and tenderness continued to be told.
Red Earth is a festival of dance and joy. It is a celebration.
It is a festival for the young
and for the old.
It is family.
