The Annual Native American Pow-Wow is coming to Haverhill’s Plug Pond Recreation Area on Sanders Road the weekend of Sept. 8 and 9, 2018. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness and the City’s Recreation Department, this family-friendly event will be celebrating 30 years at the Pond. It is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Native American art and culture while experiencing food, music, dance, crafts, storytelling and other traditions that are part of this popular cultural-educational event. Gates will open to the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
Bring a lawn chair and sit back and enjoy the various dance-style demonstrations inside the Circle. They will include the lady’s fancy shawl dance, jingle dress dance, grass dance, crow hop, lady’s traditional dance, men’s traditional dance and the Eastern Blanket Dance. Then we welcome and encourage you to join in some of the inter-tribal dancing, especially the children. The event’s emcee will always announce when the audience can participate. Native American drumming and singing is the background music for these dances. Drumming & singing will be performed by a host of drums including the Iron River Singers from Southeastern Mass; Silver Cloud Singers from New York City; Moose Crossing Singers from New Brunswick, Canada; Youngblood Singers from Long Island, NY; and the Split Feather Singers from the Mass. & VT region.
New this year in our musical line-up are: The Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli Aztec Dance Troupe, a professional dance group, who will perform ancient Aztec dances that honor centuries of Indigenous culture and tradition. Traditional dances revolve around cosmic movement and nature and are dedicated to animals. Among the dances to be performed is the White Eagle Sun Dance, an extravagant dance representing the eagle, cactus and the snake. Other performances may include the Deer Dance and if permitted A Fire Dance. All dances are accompanied by one or two standing drums.
Also performing will be The Kasibahagua Taino Cultural Society, a professional inter-generational dance group of indigenous Taino performers, who are dedicated to transmitting their ancestral heritage to their future generations through song and dance. The group uses traditional style drums, flutes, and other instruments to present the rhythmic songs and dances of the Taíno.
Both groups will have tables set up throughout the weekend to answer questions between performance.
Also new this year are two accomplished artisans. One is Jennifer Lee, Narragansett & Pequot heritage, an independent student of American Indian history and culture, past and present. At the pow-wow she will demonstrate bark basket making in front of her Eastern Conical Wigwam which she equips with accoutrements of daily life which are made by her. Most of her baskets, made from either white pine bark or ash bark, will be on display and for sale around the wigwam. While you are there, take a look at the conical wigwam and compare it to the tipis that will be set up near the Pond.
The other is Julia Marden, Aquinnah Wampanoag, an internationally known artist who specializes in Eastern Woodlands art. She is best known for her 17th century style twined basketry. Besides basketry, she also twines burden straps, sashes, and leg garter sets. At the pow-wow, Julia will be set up to demonstrate 17th century traditional twined basket weaving.
Annawon Weeden, Mashpee Wampanoag, will introduce you to Eastern Woodlands social songs and dances. The songs are accompanied by a small water drum, a traditional instrument of the Northeast that the dancers perform to. This musical presentation is a great opportunity for our audience to experience and participate in dances that are indigenous to the Native Peoples of this region – the Eastern Woodlands. The Alligator Dance, the Rabbit Dance, the Stomp Dance are a few of our Eastern favorites.
The large 28’ Voyager Canoe will make its returns to the Pond thanks to our partnership with Gedakina, Inc. Through their Pathfinders Program, friends from the Penobscot Tribe in Maine will bring the vessel to the Pow-wow for attendees to take guided rides around the outer Pond. The rides will be led by Native Master Paddlers from the Tribe. The paddle is a fun experience for everyone as well as an educational opportunity based on some of the discussions that take place in the canoe about the land, ecology, nature, culture and history.
In addition to riding in the large canoe, other boating opportunities will be available again for visitors throughout the weekend by Patricia Rocker of the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Tribe. Everyone will be able to take either a kayak or the small canoe ride around the shore line of the Pond guided on land by this tribal member.
Mashpee Wampanoag artist and craft maker, Kerri Helme, will be set up throughout the day for craft making. This year she will offer the children the opportunity to make a traditional corn husk doll then add jewelry and other decorations to it.
Loril Moondream and Peter White Fox will set up a few tipis to create a mini tipi village. Visitors will be invited inside to learn, share and ask questions. They will also do storytelling outside of the tipi at specific times during the day and have a set-up of self-directed Native games around the tipi.
An educational component of the event, which has become very popular, is the workshop by MCNAA Board Member Claudia Fox Tree, M.Ed. – Arawak (Yurumein). Interactive conversations will be held with opportunities for Q & A about Caribbean Culture and History: What does “first contact” mean to Indigenous people in today’s day and age?
There will be many vendors selling Native American items that will include beaded jewelry, wampum jewelry, silver & turquoise jewelry, hand-made shawls, baskets, wall paintings, Native-themed clothing and hats, bamboo musical instruments, rattles, blankets and so much more. Look for all of these items at the vendor stands.
Native foods (and American fare) will be for sale by Silver Moon of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation. Her menu will include three sisters rice (rice, beans, corn & squash), Indian tacos on fry bread, corn chowder, clam cakes, fry bread with toppings, hot dogs, and beverages.
Stop by Mass. Center for Native American Awareness’ resource table for educational information, event flyers, newsletters, membership applications, and brochures and any questions you may have. T-shirts and patches with the MCNAA logo will also be for sale.
Suggested donation:
$5 for adults,
$4 for senior citizens & MCNAA members,
$3 for children ages 4 years to 12 years, and
Free for children 3 years and younger.
Restrictions: No pets, no swimming, no drugs, no alcohol, no coolers.
Please bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating.
Parking: Free
Online information: mcnaa.org.
Call/Text: 617-642-1683
E-mail: mcnaa@aol.com
The Pow-wow is sponsored by the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness and the City of Haverhill’s Recreation Department. It is supported in part by a grant of the Essex County Community Foundation’s Creative County Initiative, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, the Mass. Cultural Councils’ Festivals Program, the Haverhill Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency; Merrimack Valley Magazine, and WHAV Radio.
