Billy Evans Hunting Horse and The Southern Plains Intertribal Dancers

The leadership and input of Mr. Billy Evans Hunting Horse and the professionalism of the Southern Plains Intertribal Indian Dance Group represents a legacy contribution to the past and present fame of Cheyenne Frontier Days. Billy Evans Hunting Horse was a self-trained businessman, consultant, and cultural broker whose dedication to the plight of his American Indian people placed him in the center of some of the most profound transformations in Native America, serving as an unprecedented seven two-year terms as the Kiowa Tribal Chairman. All his life, he displayed empathy for his people by safeguarding their rights, privilege, and interests. His aim was to always improve the social, economic, medical, and general welfare for the Kiowas and the Native community.
In 1980, Mr. Horse was contacted by the Cheyenne Frontier Days Indian Committee Chairman about performing during the event, which started a long and important relationship for the evolution of the Indian Village to what it is today. The Indian Chairman felt a need to expand and develop the Village and it was Billy Horse’s visionary approach that resulted in many changes and improvements to the Indian Village. Mr. Horse was consulted and plans were drawn up for the development of the Village based on his input and vision. It was important to Mr. Horse that the location not become a carnival-type setting but that it would retain the authenticity and pride of the Native American community.
Meanwhile, Billy Evans Hunting Horse and the Southern Plains Indian Dancers moved the bar up with better dancers, more colorful costumes, and their professionalism. The schedule became more formalized and expanded to include a flute player, storyteller, drummers and singers. The dancers who came were champion and sometimes professional dancers carefully hand-picked for entertainment value and quality of performance. Wednesday night PowWows were added to showcase Native American Culture, and a Sunday Indian Church Service was also added. It was also during the tenure of Billy Horse and the Southern Plains Intertribal Indian Dance Group that 15 dancers accompanied Miss Frontier, the Lady-In-Waiting, and Indian Committee members on a booster trip along the Front Range for the purpose of promoting the upcoming show. They helped the Indian Village move to a formal venue that still honors, respects and showcases Native American Culture. The Southern Plains Indian Dancers, under the direction of Billy Evans Hunting Horse, were a big part of the attendance growth in the Village over the years, growing from 400 people a day to 4500 people per day at the last show, and their professionalism and entertainment value was instrumental in the development and expansion of the Indian Village.