Sophomore Juleon Jordan is well known for sharing and teaching his culture around not only his school, but around the St. Louis area as well.
Jordan is an indigenous member of the Oneida, Navajo and Lakota Sioux nations. Jordan makes sure to preserve his heritage by dancing, singing and teaching others.
Jordan also presented at Mehlville’s International Club about his heritage, history and how he preserves his ancestors old traditions through dance and song.
“I’ve been dancing for around 10-11 years now, I used to dance Men’s Northern Traditional, but I have recently switched to Men’s Grass,” Jordan said.
For Jordan, inspiration came from his family.
“My great grandpa inspired me to dance, I looked up to him all the time. I never really practiced, I just heard the drum and singing and my body just followed the rhythm. When the drum beats and people start singing, a switch just turns on, I don’t know what happens it just happens,” Jordan recalled.
Jordan shares the importance of dance in culture.
“Dance is a story, and your telling your story. That’s who you are. When your out there dancing, the past is with you from ages back. We’ve been here for thousands of years. I’m preserving something for the older ones, what they fought for,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s great grandpa, Alan Jordan had this to say about him.
“I am extremely proud of him learning about our traditions, culture, and especially our language. I told him when he started dancing to observe the dance and the songs, but always have your own style. To say we are proud of him, in an understatement,” said Alan Jordan.
Jordan continues to teach others about his heritage. Jordan also plans to inspire Native youth to continue practicing their old ways of life.
“I want to inspire Native youth to practice our ways of life. Sing, dance, learn the language, but most importantly never forget who you are and where you came from. We are the first people of this land, Turtle Island. I want the young ones to remember these two things, wear your hair long, for the one’s that couldn’t. Also, never let our culture die, remember to always wear it with pride,” Jordan said.
Jordan is set to dance at this year’s Washington University Powwow on April 12th, 2025.
