Howard has strived to make his portrayal of Chief Sitting Bull regionally significant by deciding to wear traditional dress and give Annie a name in the Arapaho language.
“At one point in the show, Chief Sitting Bull gives Annie an “Indian name,” Howard said. “In the script, it was just gibberish that meant nothing in the Lakota language. Since I’m not Lakota, I gave her an Arapaho name: Nii’eit Hiisei Hii’ Hii’. Pronounced, it’s Nee Eight Hee Say Hee Hee. It means Sure Shot Girl. I’ve also decided to wear actual Native attire including a warbonnet on loan from the American Legion Post 84 in Arapahoe.”
Additionally, Howard worked with the cast to provide cultural and historical information as well as advice on dialogue that pertains to American Indian issues.
“The rest of the cast has been very aware of their dialogue towards the Native issues, taking care not to be insensitive or racist,” Howard said. “We’ve all taken steps to make this show friendly for Natives and non-Natives.”
Tickets are available online at tickets.cwc.edu or at the Central Wyoming College box office.
