This year, the Ak-Chin Indian Community held its 25th Annual Him-Dak Celebration on April 2 with several cultural and family fun activities. The 5K color run, along with a fun run/walk, started things off. The day also included dance performances from various Native American groups, artist demonstrations and basket weaving. As part of the celebration, there were plenty of food booths, arts and crafts, and large bounce house play areas for the children to enjoy.
The 5K color run and fun run/walk both started at the Old Fire Station and ended at the EcoMuseum. These two events began with a blessing from Ak-Chin Royalty. The participants each received a t-shirt designed by Waylon Antone, Ak-Chin Indian Community member and artist. Prizes were awarded to the first, second, and third place race finishers in both the male and female categories in the 5K color run and in the 5k fun run/walk.
Ak-Chin Indian Community Him-Dak EcoMuseum Employees, Melonie and Holly Antone
The Him-Dak festivities began with a welcome from the master of ceremonies, Chairman Robert Miguel, along with the presentation of awards for the 5K color run and fun run/walk. Performers included the Morning Star Leadership Youth Council, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community with bird dancing and singing by the river, Native American hoop dancer Kevin Duncan, and Yaqui deer dancer Norberto Coronado. Artist demonstrations took place from 9 a.m. to noon and included basket weaving by Sally Antone and oil painting by Joseph Smith and Dwayne Antone. It was a day full of cultural and festive celebrations for the community.
The Him-Dak EcoMuseum displays include artifacts along with oil paintings, watercolor paintings, hand-made baskets, and weaves created by Ak-Chin Indian Community members.Cowboy Lifestyle Network published a very informational article last September about the history and heritage of not only the Community, but when and how the Him-Dak EcoMuseum came to be. For this information visit Cowboylifestylenetwork.com.
Melonie and Holly Antone - Ak-Chin Indian CommunityEcoMuseum Employees
Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.
