District 6 Celebrates Native American Day with Song, Dance, and Fireworks at Kalka Park

October 10, 2025

Jeston Morris

Community Newsperson

KOMATKE – More than 250 Gila River Indian Community members celebrated the Native American Day at Kalka Park on Sept.18. The event was sponsored by the District 6 Recreation Department.

Parking lots at the park were full, and attendees parked along 51st Avenue and St. Johns Rd.

Community members began arriving at 5 p.m., signing in with the Recreation Department to receive a blue T-shirt. M&D’s Pickle Slushy opened, and attendees lined up for the popular treat.

Whitney Sharpe, recreation coordinator, gave a welcome remark. Aaron Sabori, traditional counselor, offered a blessing for the event and the food. Dewski’s Frybread and Catering served attendees afterwards.

“Tonight’s celebration brings the older and younger generations together,” Sabori said. “It includes traditional singing and dancing, which I attended regularly as a young person. During the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, celebration like this would last all night with a drum in the middle. These celebrations are so important to our younger generation because they are going to eventually take over and lead.” 

The purpose of District 6 Native American Day was to celebrate Pee Posh and O’otham cultural identity and traditional singing and dancing, said Eliana Rhodes, recreational assistant. “We want community members to come together and celebrate both Pee Posh and O’otham cultures,” Rhodes said Dewski’s Frybread served traditional food, including red chile, tortilla, potato salad, and pinto beans. Attendees enjoyed their meals while watching the basket dance. Xvik, A’an  (Two Feathers), led by Terrence Peters, sang O’otham songs for the performing dancers. The group are from Boys & Girls Club in Komatke.

“We started Dewski’s Frybread in 2014,” said William Sunna, owner of Dewski’s Frybread and Catering. “My culinary journey began at McDonald’s when I was 15 years old. I joined Harrah’s Casino as a dining room cook when I turned 18 and eventually started working at Agave Restaurant. I gain buffet chef experience at Gila River Casino and I attended Scottsdale Culinary Institute. As an inmate baker and cook, I gained tremendous experience because everything is made from scratch in dining. I want to give a shoutout to all my current and former crew members. I can’t do this without them. It’s an honor to cater traditional food at this celebration.”

“We are the Xvik A’an with eight members in our group,” Peters said. “We’ll be singing social songs for the dancers. We love being invited to this celebration. We are from here. It’s a privilege and honor to be part of this celebration.”

Light rain prompted organizers to change the schedule around. Kalka Park was cleared for the firework show, which attendees watched the fireworks from their parking vehicles along 51st Ave.

Afterward, cultural performances resumed. Performances included Ase’ Smaav, Cu:dk, Kwiva Ba’ban and Xvik A’an. Ase’ Smaav, is from the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Parker, Ariz. They drove several hours to a perform bird singing and dancing.

The District 6 Recreation Department expressed its appreciation to all the singers and dancers, including Cher Thomas for donating gift bags.  Shoutouts were also given to Yolanda Hart Stevens of the Pee Posh Bird Singers and Lorenzo Tahb, Jr. of Ase’ Smaav.