(Kenneth) When I grew up, I'd never see Native dance represented in the mainstream media.

(Describer) Four Native dancers perform.

I still don't. I started Indigenous Enterprise, trying to bring indigenous representation to new heights.

(Describer) They're shown at the Met Gala and outside Sydney Opera House.

(Blythe) It is also teaching our youth this way of life. They still follow their teachings.

(Kenneth) Any of them could be doing something else, but they decided to put their regalia on. Those who came before us who weren't able to live like that, I know they're proud. Hi, everybody. My name is Kenneth Shirley. We're here in Phoenix, Arizona, with Indigenous Enterprise for "If Cities Could Dance." We hope you guys enjoy the show. [contemporary R&B with Native American undertones]

(Describer) A drawing of the city skyline includes hills in the distance and the sun above. Titles: If Cities Could Dance. Phoenix, Arizona.

♪

[electro tribal rhythms with Native American chanting]

(Describer) Kenneth Shirley, Diné, Men's Fancy War Dance Champion:

(Kenneth) I do appreciate how much our culture's alive here in Phoenix as opposed to when I go to other cities. You go to a mall, you'll see other Natives. Drive on the freeway, on the 202, you'll see our Native artwork. The Heard Museum's here.

(Describer) Title: Dedicated to American Indian Art.

In Phoenix, there's so many indigenous tribes, 22 recognized tribes here. My family is from the Navajo Nation. I grew up goin' home to the reservation and going to ceremonies where I started dancing with my mom. [Big Drum Song with Native chanting]

(Describer) He walks with his mother, Mary Shirley, Diné.

♪

(Mary) When he was about two years old, I remember taking Kenneth to a Pow Wow.

(Describer) He's shown as a boy.

He'd heard the beat of this drum. And I felt like the spirit of this drum really touched his heart. And he wanted to dance. And he wanted to dance. And he wanted to dance.

[chanting ends]

(Describer) In colorful regalia, he spins, then stops. A mural of a desert scene includes a line of repeated figures across the top. Kenneth:

[wistful solo Native flute plays]

(Kenneth) Before Christopher Columbus, dancing and singing has always been part of our way of life.

[flute continues]

(Describer) Indigenous people dance in old photos.

And then 100 years ago, Natives were getting thrown in jail and being prosecuted for what we're doing today.

(Describer) In 1883, the US government banned Native dances and rituals. The laws were enforced for decades with imprisonment and use of force.

[impactful Pow Wow repetitive drumming] For practicing our culture.

(Describer) Mary:

(Mary) My late father, who Kenneth is named after, he went through this process where they were trying to assimilate Native Americans. He was also a survivor of residential schools. He was taken from his parents and beaten for speaking his language.

(Describer) Photos from the schools are shown.

In this assimilation process, he got to know a lot of Indian people from other tribes. And he introduced me to intertribal gatherings, and I used to dance.

(Describer) Kenneth's regalia includes feathers and ribbons.

(Kenneth) Dancing, it just brings like a bliss. [Pow Wow drum with male vocals, Native American chanting]

(Describer) He puts on a headdress of quills.

Just feels like very uplifting and really bringing that good blessing to myself and people that are watching. And so, it's a healing dance for myself.

(Describer) Another man dresses.

(Ty) In order to carry on that tradition, you have to get initiated.

[social song welcoming dancers]

(Describer) Ty Lodgepole, Diné:

(Ty) They bring you around the powwow circle and give you that right to dance and put on those feathers.

[chanting with drum]

(Describer) Jorge Gonzales, Salt River Pima-Maricopa:

(Jorge) What I enjoy most about a Pow Wow is it's all nations coming together just to be together as a people, to exchange songs and to dance with one another and to learn from elders. Like my instructor, Kevin.

[chanting, drumming]

(Describer) Kevin Dakota Duncan, Men's Hoop Dance Champion:

(Kevin) We can be so different. We can have different beliefs, different language, different songs. But we have that central common belief of a struggle, of love, and that unites us all together.

[chanting]

(Describer) Dancers perform at powwows. Lodgepole:

(Ty) There's different cultural teachings behind these dances, these songs. Every type of dance has its own secret story.

[trilling flute]

(Describer) He dances.

The Men's Prairie Chicken Dance, it's supposed to mimic the prairie chicken during its mating seasons, which is a little bit more fast-paced moving and more energetic. A lot of footwork and the spinning around, and there's still that symmetrical to it.

(Describer) Blythe Norris, Diné, Tsalagi, Isswa:

[medium-paced percussion]

(Blythe) The Jingle Dress originated from a woman named Maggie White. Her father was sick, and she had a dream that she was wearing this dress that healed her father from being sick.

[medium-beat percussion]

(Describer) The dress has rows of small metal cones.

(Kenneth) I do the Men's Fancy War Dance.

(Describer) Kenneth:

It's supposed to be, like, representative of a horse. So when you're seeing, like, my style of dancing, it's kind of more upbeat and high energy. My footwork is supposed to be keeping up with that beat.

[drum beating triplets]

(Describer) Gonzales dances with five thin hoops.

(Jorge) What make the Hoop Dance stand out is all of the images that are made with the hoops themselves.

[triplets continue]

(Describer) He rolls two around a wrist.

You also have to spin while you're dancing in place.

[triplets fade]

(Describer) The five are interlocked across his outstretched arms. Clips of old movies are shown. Norris:

[film projector sound]

(Blythe) There is a lot of misrepresentation out there. Old Hollywood movies, like John Wayne. The indigenous communities aren't represented, or when we are represented in the media, it's not the way we want it.

(Describer) Gwen Stefani wears a feathered headdress.

(Describer) Gonzales:

(Jorge) Our mission as Indigenous Enterprise is to make an impact for the youth to show that Native culture should be celebrated. But there are role models to look up to and to strive to be whatever you want to be.

(Describer) The four dancers walk in their regalia. Kenneth:

[driving electric beat]

(Kenneth) I want Indigenous Enterprise to be huge. We did the presidential inauguration, NBA Finals. We did Sydney Opera House. We did World of Dance.

(Describer) ...with Jennifer Lopez.

We're going there representing all Native Americans. If we do a good job, it's gonna open doors for other Native people to be like, "Hey, these guys killed it. We should give other Natives a chance."

[fast-paced techno beat]

(Describer) Headlines appear for features on them in Dance magazine, Vogue and the New York Times.

♪

(Describer) They take photos of each other.

(Ty) Now these younger generations looking up and seeing that Native Americans are on these different platforms doing big things.

(Describer) Kenneth playfully chomps at Gonzales' head. The city skyline stands in low sun.

[techno beat ends]

[peaceful, reflective indigenous flute]

(Describer) Kenneth and Mary smile as they walk with an arm around each other. Mary:

♪

(Mary) I'm so amazed, and I'm so proud of my son. "Nizhóní." Beautiful in our Navajo language. Kenneth is living this prayer. Our Indian people, once upon a time, they prayed for you.

(Describer) Mother and son laugh. Kenneth:

(Kenneth) My grandpa would always say, like, "When you go to ceremonies and you pray "for stuff that you want in your life, "you've got to meet your prayer, like, halfway. "You can't just expect things to happen. "You got to go and put the work in. Follow your prayer."

(Describer) He walks with the other dancers in his regalia, a breeze blowing his ribbons while modern city buildings stand in the background.

Thank you once again for joining us in Phoenix, Arizona for "If Cities Could Dance."

(Blythe) Don't forget to like and subscribe and comment down below where you think we should go next.

(Describer) KQED. Accessibility provided by the US Department of Education.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.