Beatrice, Neb. ? As the elders of the tribe have died, Duane and Melinda Scates watched as the old traditions of their ancestors disappeared.

It’s been their mission to teach those traditions to the younger generations.

“It’s like a small crusade to bring some of it back,” Duane Scates said.

The Scates and their 16-year-old daughter, Andrea, shared the traditions of the Ioway people recently as part of the Homestead National Monument of America Winter Festival at the Heritage Center near Beatrice.

The Scates family lives in White Cloud, Kan., where the Ioway Reservation for Kansas and Nebraska is situated.

As part of the Winter Festival event, the Scates family shared with visitors the traditions of hunting, foods, regalia and celebration used by the Ioway tribes and the Pottawattamie tribes.

Duane spoke of the symbolism of the eagle staff and the blessing proceedings used by the Ioway Tribes. He then blessed the grounds of the Heritage Center.

Symbolism is an important part of the Ioway culture, Duane said. The color of their flag and even the designs of their clothing are symbolic.

He also shared information about the different hunting practices of the Bear and Buffalo clans of the Ioway Tribe.

Melinda Scates talked about the different foods eaten by the Ioway Tribe, which included a large amount of corn, wild rice, squash, berries and other seeds found on the prairie. Food is an important part of their culture.

“No matter where you go … if they invite you for a meal, you best eat,” she said.

Melinda uses many recipes passed onto her from her grandmothers, she said.

At the end of the program, Duane sang some of the traditional songs of the Ioway Tribe. He uses song to teach the younger generations the Ioway language, he said.

“The language is dying,” he said. “But, we’re bringing it back in song.”