6,000 Attend Powwow
by David Flint
It was an extraordinary event – the Powwow and music festival held last weekend in Stephentown. “For me this experience was Biblical in nature,” said Susan Jameson, who along with Fidel Moreno prepared and organized the 4th Annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Powwow and Spirit on the Mountain Music Festival. “With the storms, the flooding and the bridges out in one week and bright sunshine, dry cut green grass fields, bridges open and thousands of people the next, it was a magical event.”
It is estimated that close to 6,000 people attended from Friday evening through Sunday, with the crowds heaviest on Saturday when the weather was perfect. Accurate counts are not available because so many were admitted to the grounds without charge, including children, seniors, public safety and law enforcement personnel and veterans.
The booths of over 50 vendors surrounded the Powwow circle at Gardner’s Field, including local organizations such as the Fire Department, the Library, the Historical Society, the Heavenly Quilters and other arts & crafts people. There were dozens of vendors from all over displaying beautiful jewelry, crafts and all sorts of traditional and contemporary native arts. Traditional American and vegan food was available, but many wanted to sample more exotic offerings of such things as buffalo chili, Navajo tacos and varieties of fry bread.
The costumes of the Native American competition dancers were spectacular. People wondered at the colors, the intricate designs and the craftsmanship that went into making them. There were at least ten categories of dancers including men’s and women’s traditional, fancy dancers, women’s jingle dancers and a number of teen and junior categories for boys and girls. More than $10,000 in cash prizes was awarded. All dancers got at least a consolation prize. Some of the winners were Elizabeth Hoover for Women’s Fancy, Taina Snowflake for Women’s
Traditional, Paige Burgess for Men’s Traditional, Sandy Rhoades for Southern Traditional and Katrina Fisher, the Head Lady Dancer, for the Women’s Jingle Dance contest. The dancers performed to the amazing drumming and calling of the drum groups Rez Dogs, the host drum, and Mystic River, the honor drum.
Over 30 other performers kept the crowd entertained, including storytellers, musicians and dancers. Singers and singing groups included Robert Red Hawk, the Depth Quartet, the Rev Tor Band, the Wolf Cry Singers, Geraldine Barney, Tony Lee Thomas, Joseph Fire Crow, Paul Finley and the headliner, Joanne Shenandoah.
Jameson applauded the brilliant performance of Aaron Athey of the Mohegan tribe and Bruce Curliss, a Nipmuc, who kept things moving as masters of ceremony for the event.
Veterans Honored
Veterans were especially honored at this Powwow. They were escorted into the ring carrying their colors at the start of ceremonies each day. Colors of the various military services were posted prominently in the center of the ring. And at the end of each day another ceremony took place to retire the colors. Global Walker Danny Garcia was welcomed into the ring on Saturday afternoon following his walk from Bennington to raise awareness about Veterans health care. An especially moving ceremony on Sunday was the Wiping the Tears Ceremony for veterans and their families.
Besides the entertainment, there were the themes that pervaded the entire event – themes of peace, love, reconciliation, healing and respect for earth, sky and water. People commented that there seemed to be a very calming atmosphere with everyone just enjoying the day, the dance, the drumming, the music, the colors and the diversity of peoples.
Jameson and Moreno expressed gratitude to Stephentown, “the only one in the world, for opening your heart, land and community to us. Thank you Neil and Susan Gardner for your generosity and hospitality.” They wanted to thank in particular the Stephentown Fire Department, the Historical Society and the Stephentown Memorial Library for their community support and for their presence and wonderful contribution.
Jameson said that she and Fidel have received overwhelming positive responses regarding the Powwow. Many people want to know when and where the event will be next year so they don’t miss it. She said the date and location is not clear yet. They have been invited to Vermont but an encore in Stephentown is still a very real possibility.
