2008 Christmas Parade

It's been three years since we marched in the Winter Haven - Auburndale Christmas Parade in 2005. We decided to do again this year.

It was a lot of work putting the float together and decorating. This is what we started out with.

We had to work on it as people were available. Early in the project, it was just Strong Bear, Mystic Coyote, and Grey Eagle, because their work schedules were more flexible.

In 1819, in protest of a treaty that gave away their land, a number of Overhill Cherokee moved to Florida, which still belonged to Spain at the time. Since are the Florida Wolf Clan, we wanted to represent something that these Cherokee may have built. So we wanted to use local materials, and we wanted a natural, weathered look. So all the wood was collected in the field and woods near Chief Wild Red Star's house.

Strong bear sets one of the weathered posts we found on the trailer.

We had decided to use a Chickee shelter with a fire in the 'front yard'. Because it was a moving float where children would be riding, we decided a railing was a must, as well as fenders over the wheels.

Mystic Coyote removes nails from a weathered board we found.

Though we used recycled, natural materials, Strong Bear insisted on sound construction techniques

We found a number of small dead cypress trees and put them to good use. We used longer ones for our railings.

We couldn't put the float together entirely until we were at the parade site. Otherwise, Strong Bear would have had a lot of angry drivers following him at 5 M.P.H. the 25 miles or so to the parade site! So the float arived fairly bare.

We started adding signs, dream catchers, feathers, animal hides, etc., at the parade staging area.

The bobcat on the rear of the float was very well behaved. He may have had too much to eat, because someone said he was "stuffed".

Bear Hawk and Strong Bear supervise float decoration, while Hawk Dancing wanders around back there. (It was starting to get dark at this point)

A view "on board" during a lull in decorating. (Note the animal skins hiding the wheel fenders)

Chief Wild Red Star is about satisfied with the float now.

There was a lot of waiting around once decorating was finished.

Hawk Dancing being bored.

(He was soon to be less bored as he danced, then walked to catch his breath, then danced again, repeating this process for the whole 3 mile parade route!)

Hawk Dancing attempts to be less bored with Mystic Coyote.

Bear Hawk is ready to go with the drum. (He drummed the whole 3 miles for his little brother, Hawk Dancing.)

We were not allowed to have an actual fire on the float this year, but Wolf Bear (shown here) used some colored celophane, a flood light, and dry ice to make this reasonable looking 'fire'.

Little Bear was really on with that fire!"

Once it got dark and the float got lit, there was still more waiting. The young ones got a little restless on the float.

In a contemplative moment while waiting for the parade to start, Brown Star engages in the traditional Cherokee maidens' activity of playing video games on the cell phone.

Grey Eagle was taking all the pictures, and Chief Wild Red Star wouldn't let him get away with that, so here he is. (Note the traditional Native American wristwatch.)

After the parade, we un-decorated the float in a parking lot, removing all the blow-away stuff. Then drivers had to be shuttled to get their vehicles. It got a little chilly, but our members were resourceful.

Praying Owl keeps warm

Of course, Little Bear found that running circles around Mommy was a great way to keep warm!

Click here to watch the video of some of our preparations.

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