Storyteller Tom Myer to speak about Pow Wow on Oct. 10

Gunbarrel resident Tom Myer, whose parents were Iroquois and native Panamanian/Spanish, will speak at the Niwot Historical Society Now & Then Lecture Series on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Grange in downtown Niwot. Myer describes his presentation style as "one man on a stage" with videos and props.

Pow Wow (or "powwow") is often thought of as a festive event of energetic group dancing, drumming and singing. Indeed, it is, but spectators may be unaware of the significance of various aspects of the art form. Myer said, "As with opera, ballet or jazz, you'll enjoy it more once you get introduced [to Pow Wow]."

Myer will also describe the ways in which Pow Wow has changed over time, including the deeper and darker aspects of the performances themselves.

Myer's father was Cayuga, one of the five Iroquois tribes located in New York state. Like many Indians (Myer's preferred name for Native Americans), he served in the U.S. military. After his service in the Korean war, he was a "roving Univac computer consultant" according to his son.

Always defensive about being Indian, he left the U.S. permanently and worked around the world "doing things." While he was preparing for the Apollo 11 mission at a relay station in the western highlands of Panama, he met a Panamanian woman who worked at the hotel where he was staying. The couple eventually had two sons, including Tom Myer.

Myer's mother was a blend of Ngäbe-Bugle and Spanish ethnicities. Myer was very close to his mother's family and lived with his grandparents until he was six or seven years old. At that point the family relocated to Panama City for better health care for his younger brother, who had severe disabilities.

The move was not an easy transition. Myer's grandparents had often told him not to tell anyone he was Indian, and he learned to be ashamed of his ethnicity. When he was enrolled in the local Catholic school, much to his embarrassment, he was immediately greeted as "Indio" because of his long, straight black hair. In addition, his first language was Spanish, so he was very challenged at the new school where instruction was in English.

Later, Myer moved to the U.S. and earned a master's degree in linguistics and medieval culture. He began working towards a PhD but decided to change direction because of the time requirement, financial burden and uncertain career prospects.

In the early 1990s, when the "world wide web" was new, Myer and his friends would discuss emerging trends, and it occurred to them that eventually security would become an issue. Myer and his associates thus began one of the early cybersecurity companies. Myer continues to work in the field.

Myer's views on his ethnic background have changed from his early embarrassment to curiosity and pride. As he learned more, he became passionate about advancing the interests of Native Americans

Myer regrets that he had not had a better relationship with his late father. He said, "I missed the chance to learn more about that side of my family." However, he has had contact with members of the Cayuga tribe, has learned a bit of the language, and estimates that he has about 300 cousins.

The geographical distance between Colorado and New York prevents him from being personally involved in Cayuga affairs. Instead, Myer has become deeply committed to Native American causes in Colorado.

Myer lists his activism priorities as "Land Back, Bison Back, and Teaching." Land Back refers to buying former Indian lands for such purposes as demolishing dams. Bison Back aims to improve the ecology of the Western prairie by introducing many more free-range bison and reducing the number of cattle. Teaching is Myer's way of offering a better future to young people by providing instruction in coding to Lakota students.

Another expression of his passion is his art, through which Myer aims to "express what is new with a conscious look back to the past." He is inspired by "animals, mythology, and especially by the tens of thousands of years that people have lived in North America." He paints digitally with an iPad and Apple Pencil using a defined color palate and abstract brushes. https://myerman.art/

Tickets are $5 at the door and admission is free for Niwot Historical Society members.