BOISE, Idaho — Drums echoed through Gowen Field Saturday afternoon, the sounds of a tribal tradition passed down for generations.
Another tradition also lives on - as the descendants of the original Boise Valley People gathered for the annual Return of the Boise Valley People.
Every year, descendants of the five Boise Valley tribes gather at Eagle Rock Park to offer prayers and share their stories and culture.
"It's really important because we want to show our return and our existence," Brian Thomas of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe said. "Because of the conflicts we had back in the 1800s with the US Calvary, we're trying to show our existence that we are still here - regardless of us living on reservations."
As part of the Return of the Boise Valley People, the Idaho National Guard dedicated a sports complex at Gowen Field to the tribes on Saturday.
"The land the we train on is their original land," Major General Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho said. "So it's important that we respect their culture and heritage, and it all starts with trust and friendship."
The Idaho National Guard hosts the tribes every year, and have dedicated a helicopter and tank to the tribes in the past.
This year, an outdoor sports complex was dedicated and named "Warriors Play Land."
"The Boise Valley People and the US Military actually share many of the same values," Major General Garshak said. "And one of the most important values we share with them is the spirit of the warrior."
Warrior, a fitting name for someone like Develynn Hall, Miss Shoshone-Bannock and a member of the Idaho National Guard.
"I'm always one for creating more safe spaces," Hall said. "More safe spaces for cherishing each other, learning more about families, tradition, culture, practices - and this is just another safe space in the world meant for everybody."
This was the 13th year of the Return of the Boise Valley People, a new tradition being forged.
"We don't want our traditions to be lost," Thomas said. "We want to keep our native language, our native cultures, and protecting what we have here on Mother Earth. As Native Americans, working with the federal government, Army National Guard, and everybody else is really important to all of our people."
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