Post by blackcrowheart on Sept 12, 2006 11:31:56 GMT -5
Land gifted to Indian Association
Nanticoke shares culture with visitors at powwow
By Molly Murray
The News Journal
MILLSBORO -- Over the years, the Nanticoke Indians have rebuilt their forgotten past -- opening a community center, a museum and hosting an annual powwow.
But Saturday, as the 29th annual powwow started, Chief James "Tee" Norwood, "Tidewater Laughing Wolf," announced some very big news for an Indian Association that is essentially land-less.
A local development group, Hudson- Schell LLC, has donated 16 acres off Route 24 near Oak Orchard to the Nanticoke Indian Association, he said.
The donation, Norwood said, gives the association a land base.
The association doesn't have plans for the property, which adjoins land that is used for the powwow. He said it could be used for trails or possibly for additional space if the powwow ever expands.
But with coastal real estate prices so high, Norwood said, he never would have believed anyone would make a donation like this.
The development group could not be reached for comment Saturday, but Norwood said the land gift has been in the works for more than a year. The paperwork was finalized in recent weeks, he said.
Norwood said that when he got a call offering the land, "I thought I must be hearing things. ... I just couldn't believe it."
This year's powwow, which continued Sunday, drew thousands of people to a shady grove, complete with native craft vendors, suppliers of items such as shells and sinew, used by native people in making their regalia, and food from traditional American Indian fare such as fry bread and succotash to simple American treats such as hot dogs.
The powwow is a place where American Indians can get together, dance, sing, visit and renew friendships.
But Norwood said it is also a place where they can share their culture with visitors.
The Nanticokes were described as Delaware's "Forgotten Folk" in a 1943 book written by ethnologist C.A. Weslager. The book has been reissued in soft cover.
An insert distributed with the book tells how the Indian River community began to grow apart once area schools were integrated in the early 1960s. The Nanticokes had already lost most of their native language. Then, the pastor at the Indian Mission Methodist Church challenged tribal leaders to celebrate their heritage and pass it on to the next generation.
"Today, we have the freedom to celebrate our culture with all of you," Norwood told the crowd gathered for the powwow.
For Jere Gibson of Roxana, the powwow is an annual tradition.
"It's the way the word should be," he said. "Anytime we can go to a powwow, we go."
The best thing about it, he said, is "the peacefulness."
Gibson watched and listened as women did a jingle dance. A group of drummers used a single drum -- the rhythm was "the heartbeat" of the dance.
The jingles the dancers wore swished and swayed and together sounded like rain falling on a tin roof. The dancers were both young and old. Terry Caudill of Delmar, a member of the Blackfoot Tribe, danced with her 6-month-old daughter in her arms.
"I've been coming here since I was 5," she said.
Caudill said she brought her children -- including the baby -- because she believes it is important to pass the tradition along.
"There are not many left," she said of American Indians.
mmurray@delawareonline.com
Nanticoke shares culture with visitors at powwow
By Molly Murray
The News Journal
MILLSBORO -- Over the years, the Nanticoke Indians have rebuilt their forgotten past -- opening a community center, a museum and hosting an annual powwow.
But Saturday, as the 29th annual powwow started, Chief James "Tee" Norwood, "Tidewater Laughing Wolf," announced some very big news for an Indian Association that is essentially land-less.
A local development group, Hudson- Schell LLC, has donated 16 acres off Route 24 near Oak Orchard to the Nanticoke Indian Association, he said.
The donation, Norwood said, gives the association a land base.
The association doesn't have plans for the property, which adjoins land that is used for the powwow. He said it could be used for trails or possibly for additional space if the powwow ever expands.
But with coastal real estate prices so high, Norwood said, he never would have believed anyone would make a donation like this.
The development group could not be reached for comment Saturday, but Norwood said the land gift has been in the works for more than a year. The paperwork was finalized in recent weeks, he said.
Norwood said that when he got a call offering the land, "I thought I must be hearing things. ... I just couldn't believe it."
This year's powwow, which continued Sunday, drew thousands of people to a shady grove, complete with native craft vendors, suppliers of items such as shells and sinew, used by native people in making their regalia, and food from traditional American Indian fare such as fry bread and succotash to simple American treats such as hot dogs.
The powwow is a place where American Indians can get together, dance, sing, visit and renew friendships.
But Norwood said it is also a place where they can share their culture with visitors.
The Nanticokes were described as Delaware's "Forgotten Folk" in a 1943 book written by ethnologist C.A. Weslager. The book has been reissued in soft cover.
An insert distributed with the book tells how the Indian River community began to grow apart once area schools were integrated in the early 1960s. The Nanticokes had already lost most of their native language. Then, the pastor at the Indian Mission Methodist Church challenged tribal leaders to celebrate their heritage and pass it on to the next generation.
"Today, we have the freedom to celebrate our culture with all of you," Norwood told the crowd gathered for the powwow.
For Jere Gibson of Roxana, the powwow is an annual tradition.
"It's the way the word should be," he said. "Anytime we can go to a powwow, we go."
The best thing about it, he said, is "the peacefulness."
Gibson watched and listened as women did a jingle dance. A group of drummers used a single drum -- the rhythm was "the heartbeat" of the dance.
The jingles the dancers wore swished and swayed and together sounded like rain falling on a tin roof. The dancers were both young and old. Terry Caudill of Delmar, a member of the Blackfoot Tribe, danced with her 6-month-old daughter in her arms.
"I've been coming here since I was 5," she said.
Caudill said she brought her children -- including the baby -- because she believes it is important to pass the tradition along.
"There are not many left," she said of American Indians.
mmurray@delawareonline.com