From the Story - Dancing Feather Once Again - “My receipt of this award of achievement is yours too. Please stand and join me now in applause for the directors and executives that have worked so very hard to make these products and educational tools available for us to promote, to sell, and to use for good health, for others as well as for ourselves. And thanks Daddy!” - Everyone was on their feet stamping and clapping. The lights went up on stage and in the audience to acknowledge everyone in that big conference room. - The master of ceremonies walked over and hugged Rene and raised her hand high in the air. The audience roared. Then he held up for the audience to see, an additional plaque that he was about to present to Rene. -
It shined and reflected dashing spears of light off its brass surface, as Rene looked up and admired it. -
The man bent over the microphone, thanked the audience for their appreciation, and said, “If you will allow me, I’d like to read to all of you the engraved message on this award to Rene.” - He continued, “To the Natural Woman of the Year. For your outstanding service to the natural foods industry and alternative health practitioners, the American Natural Foods Trade Council wishes to commend and thank Rene ‘Dancing Feather’ Hardt for her dedication and unwavering service.” - Rene could not believe her ears. She lost her smile and composure momentarily, and reached for the plaque to read the inscription for herself. ‘Dancing Feather’. There it was. She looked over to the master of ceremonies and wondered quietly, “How did you find out?” Then on a hunch, she shielded her eyes and looked out into the audience. There they were, in the front row. Her older sister and baby sister. They had been brought in along with her four children and placed next to her mother and father. - “Did you . . .” she said aloud pointing at them, and turned back to the presenter with her smile coming back. “Did they tell you my Indian name?” - And then realized what she had just said into the microphone for everyone to hear. - “Yes, Rene. The board thought it was wholly appropriate to recognize your Indian heritage and ancestry here tonight, and yes we heard the trouble your sisters got you into by spilling the beans on your Indian names. So please forgive us, and them, and be ‘Dancing Feather’ once again tonight for us.” - Rene hugged the plaque, threw a kiss to her family and another to the audience, shook the man’s hand, and thanked him one more time. Then she started off the stage raising the plaque high above her head, smiling and crying all at the same time. - Now 1,500 more people knew her childhood Indian name and tomorrow the entire association would know too she winced. - Then, in an instant, in the glare of the lights, as she reached the edge of the stage Rene decided she really didn’t mind. Matter of fact, Dancing Feather liked the reminiscent feeling of her old name. She thought of her Navajo friends from days gone-by, and wished they could have been there tonight to celebrate with their long-ago friend, her father, the fierce, red-faced Cherokee.
