MEET OUR DANCERS
Michael and Rebecca Roberts
Michael Roberts is a member of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations of Oklahoma. He is a multi-time World Champion dancer in the Men’s Southern Fancy Category and World Champion Singer with many well-known drum groups. He travels extensively throughout Indian Country and abroad, sharing stories, through song and dance. Recently, Michael was a part of the 2024 Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter Fashion Show as a Dancer and Singer in the Special Performance.
Rebecca Roberts, is from Northern New Mexico, from the Pueblo of Taos. She dances in the Jingle Dress Category. Rebecca, too, travels Indian Country and the World, sharing stories through song and dance.
Together, Michael and Rebecca have 3 daughters, 1 son in law and 2 grandsons. They all were raised within the powwow arena and as a family, they enjoy sharing song and dance with people of the world. Most recently, Michael and Rebecca traveled to Namibia, Africa to assist in the soft opening of the US Embassy and to UAE for Cultural Festivals, with Native Pride Productions.
Sharon Roberts
Sharon Roberts is from Ada, Oklahoma. She has been dancing for 40 years in the Buckskin / cloth omens golden age category.
Sharon loves going to pow-wows with her family and loves seeing her family and friends on the trail.
Sharon is known for her appliqué work on shawls and dresses. She tries her best to create her own designs.
Sharon has served on the Miss Indian World Committee for 35 years. She retired in 2023 to pass it on to the next generation. Sharon has always learned a lot fro the young girls she met while on the committee.
Sharon has traveled extensively for the MWR Program (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) on the Cultural Exchange Program. Traveling to 26 different countries on Military Bases.
Sharon is proud of her family and loves to watch them dance and practice their cultural ways.
Wilson Roberts
Wilson Roberts is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Born in Bennington, Oklahoma in 1940, he attended Goodland Indian Orphanage and in 1959, became a serviceman of the U.S. Army. After training with the Hawk Missile Battalion at the White Sands Range in El Paso, TX, Wilson spent time in South Korea in the early 1960s. After his service, Wilson was hired on with the Army-Airforce Exchange Service in 1966. This is also when he met his wife, Sharon.
Wilson and Sharon married in 1970. The couple then had three children: Dale, Michael, and Bear. Wilson’s job with AAFES saw him with new assignments in new military bases every two and a half to three years.
After 25 years, Wilson and his family retired in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and later made their home two hours east in Ada. These days, Wilson and Sharon enjoy spending time with their 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. As a family, they attend and dance at many Native Celebrations throughout the United States and Canada.
As Wilson says, “Summertime is fun time.”
T'ata Begay
T’ata Begay is Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Taos Pueblo. She is the eldest daughter of Michael and Rebecca Roberts, the eldest granddaughter of Wilson and Sharon Roberts of Ada, Oklahoma, and the eldest granddaughter of Vincent and Judith Mondragon of Taos, New Mexico.
When she could walk, she was introduced to the powwow arena as a fancy shawl dancer and has been dancing the women’s fancy ever since. She has been fortunate enough to share her dance style as a Champion dancer for thirty years, making many friends and good relations throughout her travels. T’ata’s dancing has awarded her many honors, prized winnings and has given her many opportunities like traveling abroad, dancing for the WNBA, NCAA, Country Western Singers like Montgomery Gentry, and John Anderson, and for the AMC show Longmire, to name a few.
T’ata is in her final years of a doctoral program in Learning and Organizational Change and an honor student at Baylor University, where she is researching how one tribal museum conveys its relationship to its own tribal culture and history. She also holds an M.A. in Education and Policy Analysis from Arizona State University and a B.A. in Human Relations with a minor in Psychology and Native American Studies from the University of Oklahoma.
While traveling, dancing, and researching, T’ata is thankful she can do it with her family: Angelo and their two young sons. When she finds some free time, she enjoys sewing her family’s powwow outfits and watching furniture-flipping videos until she gets the courage to do one!
T’ata is passionate about sharing her knowledge of her history and culture and helping to cultivate the tribal and professional livelihoods of the communities she visits. Her family and cultural values are her primary motivators in all she does and will continue to do.
Angelo Begay
Angelo Begay is from Red Mesa, Arizona. His mother, Teresa Warren, is of the Bitter Water Clan, and his father, Melvin Begay, is of the Water’s Edge Clan. His cheii, Harry Warren, is of the Covers Himself Clan, and his nali Dan Begay of the Red Running Into the Water Clan.
He was introduced to the powwow arena at a young age; however, he was introduced to the style he dances today, the men’s Prairie Chicken, by his uncle TJ Warren, when he was thirteen and visiting the Piikani, Blackfeet Nation of Siksika, Alberta, Canada. Since then, Angelo has traveled thousands of miles, winning numerous championships across the United States and Canada. A few of his most prized winnings include the Gathering of Nations, Prairie Island, Denver March, Shakopee, and Siksika First Nations, Home of the Prairie Chicken.
Angelo has lived in Oklahoma for the last five years with his wife, T’ata, and their two sons, who also dance. Outside of dancing, he enjoys golf, disc golf, and developing his mechanic skills. His all-time favorite is playing with his boys, which keeps him strong, active, and healthy.
Angelo is honored to dance with Anoli and thankful to share his style of dance and the story he learned about the Men’s Prairie Chicken. Ahehee!
MorningStar Roberts
MorningStar Roberts comes from the Taos Pueblo People of Northern New Mexico and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She has been dancing since she was able to walk, and she has traveled throughout North America and overseas.
MorningStar started sewing when she was fifteen years old, and now creates outfits for her and her family. MorningStar is an accomplished dancer. At the Gathering of Nations, the biggest powwow in North America, she won the Teen Girls Fancy Shawl Contest in 2018 and 2019 and the Women's Fancy Shawl Contest in 2023. Also in 2023, MorningStar was champion in the first Women's Fancy Bustle competition held in Pawnee, Oklahoma.
She graduated from Salish Kootenai College with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work in June of 2023. MorningStar loves being able to live this way of life and meet new people along the way.
Mu Roberts
Mu Roberts is a full time student at Haskell Indian University in Lawrence, Kansas.
He is pursuing an Associates Degree in Fitness Management and will be continuing his education in Business Management.
Mu is a Grass Dancer and has been dancing since he was able to walk. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada, representing his tribes, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Wâh Pâh Mûkthè (Stoney Nakodas) from Morley, Alberta, Canada.
He is one of the original Horse Dancers that brought the dance back to the people.
In his travels, he has won many competitions throughout the country. He also enjoys singing with his family, Fort Peck Sioux.
Mu plays golf in his downtime, and also plays for the Haskell Indian University team. He strives to carry on his family beliefs and culture by attending many different events. Along the way he has built many relationships. Mu maintains a drug and alcohol free lifestyle. His future plans include continuing his education, traveling and seeing the world, meeting many different Nations along the way.
Paan Pai Roberts
Paan Pai Roberts, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Taos Pueblo of New Mexico, is a
Southern Cloth Dancer.
She began dancing at the young age of 1 and was raised in the arena.
She travels all over Indian Country sharing Song and Dance with her peers and competes with the best of the best.
George “Cricket” Shields
George “Cricket” Shields, is of the Pawnee/Otoe/Sioux Tribes, he is a Northern Men’s Traditional Dancer.
He has been dancing since a very young age.
Cricket is an Administrator in the Putnam City School District in Oklahoma City area, with focus on Native American Students.
In his spare time, Cricket makes regalia for other Natives who need help and also tries to promote and encourage young, new dancers to always be proud and happy they are Native American.
George “Sun” Shields
George “Sun” Shields III, is of the Pawnee, Otoe, Sioux, and Hopi Nations and is a Men’s Grass Dancer.
He has been dancing since he could walk.
Sun is a graduate of Shawnee High School and plans to pursue a degree in higher education beginning Fall 2024.
He is proud of his Native American heritage and strives to continue the dancing, singing and ceremonial life that his family partakes in. In his spare time, Sun is a social Media Influencer under the name “Pawnee Boy” and also was in the hit series Reservation Dogs and Marvels “Echo”.
Special thanks to The Choctaw Cultural Center and Digital Sonder for our photographs.
