The American Crown Circus has been coming to Pahrump since 1996, and this Friday will mark the 12th visit as they take their show from Circus Circus in Las Vegas on the road for the summer. Pahrump is the first stop.

The circus lends itself as a fundraiser for the sponsor in each location where they have a show. Every year one woman has consistently been involved in bringing it to Pahrump, even though she doesn't live here anymore.

Laura Rainey owned, and still owns, Smoke Signals Trading Post. For many years, the store was located across from Wal-Mart where Desert Sprit Trading Post is now.

Rainey, a respected and talented silversmith, brought quality Indian jewelry, Native American made and traditionally fashioned weapons, pipes, art, pottery, handmade clothing, herbs, crafting supplies, Native American music, and museum quality artifacts and art pieces to show and/or sell to Pahrump.

She is Shoshone, and the spirit of her people lent that ambiance to her store. She relocated to Ely in 2004 for a couple of very good reasons. Rainey's home reservation is in Ely. She and her husband Fred Carpenter own land there and the dream was and still is, to bring her culture to the young in the way of a nonprofit cultural center.

Rainey formed the Nevada Native American Cultural Society in 2004 and the proceeds from the circus go to fund educational endeavors for anyone, but mostly Indian youth, who have either lost touch with their ancestral heritage or want to learn more about it.

Plans are completed to build four 40-foot by 100-foot buildings to house classrooms and hands-on artisan studios where the Indian masters of basket weaving, beading styles, silversmithing, pottery, tanning of hides, crafting, the language, native wild foods identification classes and native herbology will be passed on to those wishing to participate. Not just for Ely, but for anyone in Nevada. It is to the advantage of all people, not just Indians.

One of the buildings is slated to be a museum and art gallery. Even though the facility isn't completed, Rainey has still taken on two students interested in learning to fashion silver into beautiful pieces of jewelry.

Although the major funding has been secured through private sources, the economy has put plans on hold for a bit. Rainey said, "We hope to reevaluate again in March, and if all goes well, we should break ground in June and be open by the end of the summer."

She says the major message is to teach the traditional way of respecting "Mother Earth" and to cultivate awareness. There is, at this moment, a group of 37 Indians duplicating the 1978 walk across America to Washington, D.C. The purpose is to raise awareness over the Earth and the ecological "rape" of the land. This past weekend, Laura and her Tribe played host to them, providing food, rest and prayers for the journey.

The circus will bring a professional gathering of the Flying Perez Troupe, the Elastic Man, the juggling styles of the Grand Cubillos, celestial soloist Stephanie on the Aerial Lyre, clowns and the smallest horses in the world.

There will be two shows only, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., today, March 7 at Petrack Park. Tickets are $10.00 per adult and each adult may bring two children under 12 at no additional charge.

Call Rainey at 800-456-1151 for more information. Smoke Signals Trading Post is located at 598 Aultman Street in Ely, diagonally across from the Hotel Nevada.