Alva Review-Courier -

"It's important to remember our history so we can learn from it and move forward. We work hard to try to tell our history correctly," 40-year Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty board member Steve Bryan said. In the mid-'90s he was president for six years (1991-97).

Never witnessing the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Pageant is like missing out on finding a buried treasure. Discover how this prairie land started out with only the sounds of rushing streams, rustling grass, birds singing and pollinating wildflowers in every color of the sunset, the thunder of fierce storms and that from the hooves of animals running in the wild.

Then the Indians came who lived in harmony with the land. Explorers discovered the land. Settlers searching for a home and a better life, not afraid of hard work, found the area. Suddenly the only thunder was not from storms or stampedes but from clashes of the Indians and settlers and cowboys who did not understand each other and did not get along.

And then, as colorful as an ornate Indian Chief's headdress, is the story of how peace eventually came once again to the prairie.

In 1917, the citizens of Medicine Lodge, Kansas, began their quest to commemorate the historical significance of the Treaty of Medicine Lodge. It was signed in 1867 by the Peace Commission of the United States Government and the five tribes of Plains Indians – the Kiowa, Comanche, Kiowa-Apache, Arapaho and Cheyenne. World War I delayed their efforts and the first Peace Treaty Pageant was held in 1927. Some remember that Mrs. Hibbard (of the Hibbard Drug family) was a diligent member of that first committee. This year, 2021, will be the 27th presentation of the pageant that is usually performed every three years.

Children and adults attending the pageant will see history come to life from the earliest days and how the story unfolded. The reenactment is set against the panoramic backdrop of timeless gyp hills and the Kansas sky in a natural amphitheater near the actual site of the council where the Medicine River and Elm Creek flow together. The show takes the audience from the early Spanish conquistadors to the day peace pipes are lit and pioneers cross the river.

Whelan Tells of the Generations of Families Playing Pageant Parts

Many former residents return to play the part they have for years in the Peace Treaty Pageant.

"In some cases it's a generational thing," past president Sara Whelan said. "Kids continue the roles played by their parents and grandparents."

As a little girl, Whelan began her career with the Peace Treaty Pageant as a "prairie flower" in 1961. By 1970 she was an "Indian maiden" in the pageant. Fast forward to 2006 and she was president of the organization and again in 2011. That's after serving on the board in the mid-1990s. "I worked with John Clark and Jim Colborn – a lot of good hardworking people."

Whelan remembers her dad, Charles Lottridge, played General C.C. Augur in the treaty signing scene in 1966. She recalled young boys were "the little bluebirds."

"That didn't last too long," she said with a laugh.

Whelan provided a perfect example of a generational affair with Charlene Gant Larson, who was Pocahontas in 1961 and ever since that role has been played by her descendants: 1973 her daughter Charyl Larson Zier; 1997 Mica Zier – daughter of Charyl, granddaughter of Charlene; 1994 Dacy Larson Woods – niece of Charyl, granddaughter of Charlene; 2018 Hadley Woods – Dacy's daughter, great granddaughter of Charlene; 2021 Mackenzie Woods – Dacy's daughter, great-granddaughter of Charlene.

Additionally, Whelan said Charlene's grandfather, Joe Gant, was the first member of their family to participate in the pageant when he drove a covered wagon in the 1932 pageant. Six generations of their family have participated in some way since then. Whelan said that current pageant director, Cathy Colborn, can trace her family back to the first pageant in 1927.

Although it's not part of the pageant now, Whelan said it was fun to see square dancing with the dancers on horseback. One of her favorite pageant scenes is "Flags of the Empires" where riders steer their horses in formation and they criss-cross. "If people only knew how much they practice," she said.

Whelan said there are "at least 100 people in the cast." She told of runaway carriages and other live unplanned debacles in the live shows. "There have been many accidents, but we've been lucky. It's amazing that no one has been seriously hurt. We want to keep it that way," she said.

"I've heard all sorts of descriptions of the Peace Treaty Pageant. I've never heard of anything like it anyplace else – not reenacted at the location where it actually occurred," Whelan said. "I think there's no place in Kansas as beautiful as sitting out there on top of the amphitheater watching the pageant, seeing the gyp hills in the distance, and you see the wagon train coming across like it did when it really happened. That's why the Peace Treaty is important to me."

Ginger Goering Adds Some Humor and Promotes Stockade

Ginger Goering and her husband, Alan, are longtime Medicine Lodge residents. She remembers years ago at a party after a really hot afternoon pageant performance, Jane Nixon was still wearing her heavy green velvet gown and jumped in the Chapin's pool.

"I've had fun through the years, especially the parades. When my kids were involved it was really fun. One year we had Governor Joan Finney riding on the back of an old Lincoln. The brakes went out and we coasted into the band," Goering said.

She is manager of the Stockade Museum and Gift Shop. Touring the Stockade takes you to a time in the country's past where life was hard but hope for a better future was strong. The promise of new life in the west called many families to leave everything familiar behind. Check the Peace Treaty weekend schedule to see what all is happening at the Stockade.

Currently Goering is scheduling events for Carry Nation, the famous temperance leader – her 175th birthday will be in November. The Carry Nation House stands next to the Stockade. Carry Nation was known for carrying her hatchet into saloons and performing "hatchatations" to rid them of that "demon rum."

The Stockade itself has a 60th anniversary on Oct 1. Goering invites you for refreshments and entertainment. Goering said the Stockade opened in 1961 in conjunction with Kansas 100th birthday. Kansas became a state January 29, 1861.

Remembering her first introduction to Peace Treaty weekend, Goering said it was 1976 and she worked for the newspaper. "I had never been in a town with people partying, riding horses and swinging their guns!"

Goering said she is pleased that the Peace Treaty committee has made some changes this year. One of those is moving more events to Memorial Peace Park. Another is wristbands good at all events including all three days. Price for adults is $35 and for ages 7-17 wristbands are $15.

Goering answers phone calls at the Stockade; many of them are about all the activities the Peace Treaty weekend offers. "There's lots of excitement from people from outside the area," she said.

Friday is Student Day when area schools bring buses full of students to watch the Peace Treaty Pageant.

Steve Bryan Remembers When 20,000 People Attended Pageant

Steve Bryan said that Richard Raleigh was Peace Treaty President in 1990. Bryan took the job in 1991. He said the largest attendance was at that time – 20,000 people. "That was paid admissions – we counted ticket stubs. It was almost more than we could handle." Bryan said they always think there was so much interest because the movie "Dances with Wolves" came out then. Also the Peace Treaty Pageant advertisement was on Pepsi cans.

Bryan laughed as he told the story that he was president and his friend Jim Colburn was VP. They were cleaning up the permanent outhouses at the pageant grounds. They were actually in the basement of the outhouses pouring new concrete for the floors. "We looked at each other and agreed that God has a sense of humor."

"We always have fun out here," Bryan said. They were always building or fixing something such as new bleachers, wagon wheels, did all their own fencing, you name it. He and friends started the Ranch Rodeo.

He mentioned how welcomed the new powwow arena and campground is. It's at Memorial Peace Park. "I'm thankful for our corporate sponsors," Bryan said.

One aspect of the Peace Treaty Bryan really likes is what it brings out in the community. "The town cleans – getting ready for their company. People take pride in our community. People are always making it enjoyable – working long hours. It's hard to imagine how many people put in hours and hours. Young people are following. We have hardworking young people to keep our history and heritage alive.

"We've earned our retirement. Younger people are working hard to keep the pageant alive. People make changes and that's good." He thinks the wristband is a great value for individuals.

"It's important to have every three years so youth have a chance to be in it in high school. The best part for me is I made so many friends throughout the years with the Peace Treaty," Bryan said. "It's always a lot of fun and a tremendous amount of work."