A life celebration that promises good food, traditional dance, childrens' games and Native American music is set to take place here July 12 through 14.

Sizeable crowds are expected to attend the Sixth Annual Fandango sponsored by the Ely Shoshone Tribe at the Wappin do-Ya-Be Center at 250 Heritage Drive.

This traditional Fandango encourages the continuance of the Nevada Shoshone heritage of song, dance, and skilled arts and craft, say its organizers.

Planned activities include traditional handgames, card games, horseshoe and volleyball tournaments, fun run/walk, kid's games, dancing, Indian food and Arts and Crafts booths. A free barbecue is set for Saturday, July 13.

Native American entertainers from several tribes are scheduled to appear during the event, including the Sage Dancers who participated in the 2002 Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Salt Lake City.

Raffles also have been planned,including one for the grand prize of an authentic Shoshone cradleboard handmade by local artisans.

What is a Fandango? "It's a celebration of life for the Shoshone people that took place in various seasons," explains Bernice Lalo, who is helping publicize this year's celebration.

Lalo has developed a brochure to help get the word out, and she writes while the origin of the word "Fandango" is unknown; it is thought to come from a Spanish word.

"Typically, the Shoshone (Newe) met for approximately a week for Fandango celebrations. But the times of these events have changed because many Newe work in non-Native employment, Lalo said." Now, the Fandango usually starts Fridays continuing through Sundays.

Fandango events were recorded in early newspapers dating back in the late 1800's, when the non-Native news people started taking notice of the celebrations near the towns and the increase of Newe into the towns.

"They camped out and met with those people they had not seen for some time. They visited, laughed at jokes, stories, and each other. They recounted adventures and life passages. Young people met and courted. Older people renewed friendships. Relatives caught up on news about the families," Lalo said.

During the morning hours, the camp would be busy with the sound of the Newe and the selling of food. Then the fun began. Saturday mornings included (during the 40s and 50s) races for the children, women, and men.

"Some small prize would be given, such as candy or one bottle of pop for the racers. Onlookers chuckled at those men fools who had been 'too happy' the night before and could barely wheeze across the finish line. Everyone had a glorious time."

Prayers were made for good rain, blessings were offered for the sick, and the sad and helpless. Special blessings were asked for the earth, all the earth animals and continued happiness for the time we were to remain here on earth, according to Lalo.

There was no need to tell the people when the dances began. As the darkness began, the Newe gathered around a pole with the various singers starting the dances. Sometimes the "pole" would be a pine tree. Songs belonged to various families or individuals but were shared with the people. Songs told about the nature of the Newe world, such as, pinenuts and other foods, emotions, hardships, courtships, and families. Often songs described the Newe relation with Sogobia (Sogo or Sogob earth or dirt, bia-mothe).

"Until the early rays of the sun chased away the darkness, Newe danced. Some say these dances confirmed the Newe relation with the earth. An Elder has said, 'We shook the earth (with our feet) so Sogobia would know we still were alive " that we were still here.'

"In this way the Sogobia would know we were still dancing and honoring her. Land sales, mines, water sales and the influx of various peoples changed our lives; and these changes threatened to erase our ties to Newe Sogobia. The old people recognized we would not continue in exactly the same way. We continued the dances to survive and endure the many hardships yet to come," Lalo said.

The Fandango was a time for joy and happiness, and the Newe often danced with a variety of ages. "It did not matter if an old man danced next to a tiny girl or a big, big person danced next to a child. The differences in ages and sizes were respected. A person could get of the circle at the end of the dance and get into the circle later without making anyone feel rejected. In the Newe way, we respected the person, not the person's size or age," Lalo said.

"All kinds of people made the circle. Starting in the 30's, the Paiutes came to join us in our circles. In historical times they wee the "Woho" (enemy) but now we have intermarried. So when a circle was made all the people's fingers intertwined and we danced with arms touching to the sounds of the repeated verses. Some of the dances knew the songs and joined in with the main singer."

Today's Fandangos usually feature a solitary singer accompanied by a drum, according to Lalo. It is still acceptable to join voices with the singer if a person knows the song.

In early times, we greeted the sun. Now it is very difficult to keep on dancing after several rounds much less all night.

How did the Newe dance all night, she questions. "How did they ever keep it up?"

(Fandango organizers can be contacted at 775-289-3013.)