Post by Okwes on Aug 21, 2006 10:51:04 GMT -5
331st Narragansett Pow Wow -oldest of its kind
By:Chris Moscardi 08/17/2006
The event, is oldest of its kind (the word pow wow is actually a derivation of a Narragansett word, powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader"), and members of the tribe invited people from all tribes, nations, and walks of life to join them in their celebration of life, love, and earth."
I'm here for the music. I follow music like a bee to honey," said Margaret Shulden, a resident of upstate New York who heard of the Narragansett celebration while attending another pow wow near her home. "I heard about the pow wow here. I heard it was a big celebration so I had to come check it out," she said.
The gates opened at 10:30 a.m. to let the crowds trickle in, but the grand entry and the actual celebration didn't begin until just past 1 p.m. The ceremony started with a blessing from the tribe's Medicine Man, Running Wolf.
In practiced movements, he lit the fire at the center of the main circle and offered thanks to the Creator and to Mother Earth.
With spectators reverently standing-by, Running Wolf then called for the Grand Entrance to begin.
With a spirited chant and a rhythmic drum beat pacing their steps, a procession of more than 100 Narragansetts, dressed in traditional attire, made their way to the center circle amidst hoots and hollers.
The women in the procession were dressed in long leather skirts. Traditional jewelry hung from their ears and necks and feathers swayed from their hair with their movements.
The men wore outfits with a myriad of colors, and donned traditional, handmade jewelry along with brightly colored vests and ornate feather arrangements, mounted neatly atop their heads or hanging from their shoulders.
"It's amazing to see such a grand old tradition still carried out with all this fervor and passion," said Charlestown native Gregory Bundt, who brought his two children Joe and Michaela, in an effort to expose his kids to something that none of them had seen before.
After the procession made its way into the circle and around the center fire, the tribe's colors were presented and an honor song was performed.
With members of the tribe and general public watching, Medicine Man Running Wolf performed a "cleansing of the circle," slowly making his way along the edge of the ring, shifting his body to the beat of a single drum, and blessing the land with a rattle and deer antler.
With the circle cleansed, Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas (he was called by his tribe name, Seventh Hawk, during the ceremonies) was then presented with the Peace Pipe from Running Wolf. After walking to the four directions and thanking the Creator, Thomas shared the pipe first with the visiting Sachem of the Shinicock Tribe, longtime friends of the Narragansetts, and then with members of the Tribal Council.
The remainder of the afternoon was filled with music and dancing, as members of the Narragansett tribe, as well as other Native American tribes from around the region encircled the center fire. There were dances to honor war veterans, other tribes, and children as well as a traditional dancing competition.
Various booths set up by tribe members and others involved in the Native American community surrounded the pow wow clearning. Vendors sold everything from food and pictures to handmade jewelry, clothing, blankets, and paintings.
"There are certain things here that you can't find anywhere else," said vendor Nina Stone, holding up a beautifully ornate necklace with a piece of turquoise carved into the simple shape of a turtle, hanging off a strand of thick leather. "This is handmade; only one like it. Just like [the Narragansetts]. We're hand made from the Earth, each of us," said Stone.
Of course, the topic on the tips of some peoples' tongues was the current struggle to bring a casino into Rhode Island under the Narragansett Indian banner.
Volunteers for "the casino movement" sat at their booth and handed out literature touting the benefits of a casino for the tribe. They also collected signatures from people pledging to vote in favor of building the casino in West Warwick this fall.
"$140 million dollars goes right through Rhode Island each year," said Nick Cirillo a volunteer for the casino. "Let's keep that money here," he said, referring to potential revenues. Cirillo said he had spoken with a majority of people who supported the Narragansett's push to build the casino.
But for most of the tribe members, and certainly for the majority of the general public that were in attendance, the push for a casino paled in importance to traditions that have held strong for hundreds of years.
"I'm here to enjoy this wonderful day and celebrate with my friends, my family, and my people," said Francis Jumproot, as he fixed a rich ornamental headdress that he would wear during the ensuing dance. Jumproot came down from Maine to join the festivities.
By:Chris Moscardi 08/17/2006
The event, is oldest of its kind (the word pow wow is actually a derivation of a Narragansett word, powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader"), and members of the tribe invited people from all tribes, nations, and walks of life to join them in their celebration of life, love, and earth."
I'm here for the music. I follow music like a bee to honey," said Margaret Shulden, a resident of upstate New York who heard of the Narragansett celebration while attending another pow wow near her home. "I heard about the pow wow here. I heard it was a big celebration so I had to come check it out," she said.
The gates opened at 10:30 a.m. to let the crowds trickle in, but the grand entry and the actual celebration didn't begin until just past 1 p.m. The ceremony started with a blessing from the tribe's Medicine Man, Running Wolf.
In practiced movements, he lit the fire at the center of the main circle and offered thanks to the Creator and to Mother Earth.
With spectators reverently standing-by, Running Wolf then called for the Grand Entrance to begin.
With a spirited chant and a rhythmic drum beat pacing their steps, a procession of more than 100 Narragansetts, dressed in traditional attire, made their way to the center circle amidst hoots and hollers.
The women in the procession were dressed in long leather skirts. Traditional jewelry hung from their ears and necks and feathers swayed from their hair with their movements.
The men wore outfits with a myriad of colors, and donned traditional, handmade jewelry along with brightly colored vests and ornate feather arrangements, mounted neatly atop their heads or hanging from their shoulders.
"It's amazing to see such a grand old tradition still carried out with all this fervor and passion," said Charlestown native Gregory Bundt, who brought his two children Joe and Michaela, in an effort to expose his kids to something that none of them had seen before.
After the procession made its way into the circle and around the center fire, the tribe's colors were presented and an honor song was performed.
With members of the tribe and general public watching, Medicine Man Running Wolf performed a "cleansing of the circle," slowly making his way along the edge of the ring, shifting his body to the beat of a single drum, and blessing the land with a rattle and deer antler.
With the circle cleansed, Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas (he was called by his tribe name, Seventh Hawk, during the ceremonies) was then presented with the Peace Pipe from Running Wolf. After walking to the four directions and thanking the Creator, Thomas shared the pipe first with the visiting Sachem of the Shinicock Tribe, longtime friends of the Narragansetts, and then with members of the Tribal Council.
The remainder of the afternoon was filled with music and dancing, as members of the Narragansett tribe, as well as other Native American tribes from around the region encircled the center fire. There were dances to honor war veterans, other tribes, and children as well as a traditional dancing competition.
Various booths set up by tribe members and others involved in the Native American community surrounded the pow wow clearning. Vendors sold everything from food and pictures to handmade jewelry, clothing, blankets, and paintings.
"There are certain things here that you can't find anywhere else," said vendor Nina Stone, holding up a beautifully ornate necklace with a piece of turquoise carved into the simple shape of a turtle, hanging off a strand of thick leather. "This is handmade; only one like it. Just like [the Narragansetts]. We're hand made from the Earth, each of us," said Stone.
Of course, the topic on the tips of some peoples' tongues was the current struggle to bring a casino into Rhode Island under the Narragansett Indian banner.
Volunteers for "the casino movement" sat at their booth and handed out literature touting the benefits of a casino for the tribe. They also collected signatures from people pledging to vote in favor of building the casino in West Warwick this fall.
"$140 million dollars goes right through Rhode Island each year," said Nick Cirillo a volunteer for the casino. "Let's keep that money here," he said, referring to potential revenues. Cirillo said he had spoken with a majority of people who supported the Narragansett's push to build the casino.
But for most of the tribe members, and certainly for the majority of the general public that were in attendance, the push for a casino paled in importance to traditions that have held strong for hundreds of years.
"I'm here to enjoy this wonderful day and celebrate with my friends, my family, and my people," said Francis Jumproot, as he fixed a rich ornamental headdress that he would wear during the ensuing dance. Jumproot came down from Maine to join the festivities.