Sho-Bans in the Spotlight: Izabella Broncho hosts Firth High School Social Powwow for senior project
Sho-Ban tribal member and Firth High School senior Izabella Broncho (far right) with local royalty at the social powwow on Saturday, October 3.
By JEREMY SHAY
Sho-Ban News
FIRTH — Shoshone-Bannock tribal member and Firth High School senior Izabella Broncho hosted a social powwow for community members at the Firth High School gymnasium on Saturday, October 3.
The free community event saw local dancers, spectators and vendors come out to support Broncho’s efforts, with host drum Spring Creek, and additional drums Ghost Canyon and Young Buffalo assisting. The powwow was emceed by Matt Wilson, with arena direction by Kyle Nipwater.
Tribal member and local community member Veterans post colors at the social powwow grand entry at Firth High School.
Izabella Broncho chose to host the first social powwow at Firth High School for her senior project to highlight her cultural roots and to demonstrate the tradition to her classmates and teachers, “I’m a part of both of these communities, and I wanted to conjoin them and show the people our culture, and what we do, and what it means to us,” she said.
Izabella will graduate from Firth High School in the spring of 2027 and is concurrently on track to earning an associate degree from College of Eastern Idaho for her dual-enrollment studies.
Firth High School senior Izabella Broncho.
Dancers entered the gymnasium for grand entry, with local veterans carrying the flags; host drum Spring Creek sang the flag and victory songs.
Izabella Broncho introduced herself and thanked everyone in attendance, and she honored visiting royalty with flowers and gifts.
The evening events included intertribal dancing, various dance category showcases and a cake walk. Broncho and her parents Jasmine and Tyler Moser assisted with coordinating gifts for dancers, the cake walk and dance special prizes.
Several local dancers competed in two all-ages dance specials — a grass dance special for male dancers, and a jingle dress dance special for female dancers. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three dancers in each division, judging assistance by Miss Shoshone-Bannock Tay’a Osborne. Following are the results.
Grass Dance Special: First place was Michael Bahe, second place Joseph Baldwin and third Reden Kutch.
Jingle Dress Special: First place went to Ontaria Arrow White, second place Kiauna Shongutsie and third Elaya Villareal.
Local vendors provided food, beadwork and jewelry for attendees, and raffles were conducted.
Izabella Broncho would like to offer her gratitude to community members who attended, “Thank you to everyone who showed up and came to support.”
Izabella is also the daughter of tribal member Jeremy Broncho.
