Ft. Hamby Pow Wow

The North Carolina

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Ft. Hamby Pow Wow

Third Annual Ft. Hamby Pow Wow September 18 to 20, 2009

Did you miss the Ft. Hamby Pow Wow last year because of the “Gas Crunch”? Well, it’s that time again, so gather your wagons and come early, bring your lawn chair, and stay all day. This is an educational event so be prepared to learn something about the Native American People. Whether it is how to dance or how we lived or made things, it will be new information to most. The schools are invited to come on Friday. Educational activities for the children will be provided by us and the Ft. Hamby Park Rangers during Kids Day. We will also have activities for the children on Saturday and Sunday. There will be tee pees to look at, story tellers to listen to, and things to make and do.

Activities like dancing, drumming, singing, story telling, and music will be alternating during the day. During the dance sessions, when the Emcee says “Intertribal”, that means everybody dance, even YOU! On Friday, during Kids Day, the children will be asked to participate in the dancing. The boys will learn “the stealth of the warrior” from the head man and the girls will learn the “dignity and grace” of the traditional lady dancer from the head lady. There will also be fun dances like the “Crow Hop”, the “Buffalo” and the “Snake Dance”. Even the teachers will be asked to participate. Sometimes we ask the teachers to compete to see who the best is, and the children are the judges.

Activities like dancing, drumming, singing, story telling, and music will be alternating during the day. During the dance sessions, when the Emcee says “Intertribal”, that means everybody dance, even YOU! On Friday, during Kids Day, the children will be asked to participate in the dancing. The boys will learn “the stealth of the warrior” from the head man and the girls will learn the “dignity and grace” of the traditional lady dancer from the head lady.There will also be fun dances like the “Crow Hop”, the “” and the “Snake Dance”. Even the teachers will be asked to participate. Sometimes we ask the teachers to compete to see who the best is, and the children are the judges.

Dave Trezak is our Emcee. He is a Native American Music Award Nominee. He sings and plays the Native American flute and the guitar. He and Miss Vicky Hutto will be singing and playing periodically during the day and on Saturday evening they will be giving a concert after the pow wow is over. This will be something for all ages to enjoy.

The Pow Wow will be located inside the Ft. Hamby State Park. The park is located six miles north of Wilkesboro on US 421 just north of Mile Marker #293. Turn south on South Recreation Road to the park entrance. Admission to the park is $1.00. Admission to the Pow Wow is $5.00 for Adults and $2.00 for Children. Friday is Kids day and children are only $1.00 with the schools.

The Pow Wow will be located inside the . The park is located six miles north of Wilkesboro on US 421 just north of Mile Marker #293. Turn south on to the park entrance. Admission to the park is $1.00. Admission to the Pow Wow is $5.00 for Adults and $2.00 for Children. Friday is Kids day and children are only $1.00 with the schools.

The park opens at 8 AM and the Pow Wow starts at 9. The vendors will be open around 8 but the regular dancing activities will start at 9. Regular hours are 9 to 9 on Friday and Saturday and 9 to 5 on Sunday. On Friday, activities for the children start as soon as the schools arrive.

Grand Entry is at 7 PM on Friday, 1 PM and 7 PM on Saturday and 1 PM on Sunday. Grand Entry is when the Native Americans get dressed in their “Finest and Best” and have a “Grand Entry”. This is led by the Eagle Staff carried by the Head Veteran, followed by the American Flag, the Prisoner of War Flag, and other flags carried by Veterans. The flags are followed by Native American Veterans. Next are the Head Man and Head Lady. They are followed by the men’s categories (Traditional, Fancy, and Grass), the ladies categories (Traditional, Fancy Shawl, and Jingle), and the children’s categories (boys and girls). The Veterans and dancers make one loop of the circle and then the Veterans come and stand in front of the Drum Arbor. A prayer is said and then some Honoring Songs are sung. Then ALL VETERANS are asked to come and be honored by dancing a Victory Dance with us. They make a loop around the circle and exit the East Gate and shake hands as they go out and are welcomed home by the other Veterans. When all the Veterans have exited the dancing begins.

Last year we had a wonderful tee pee display. Steve Cardwell from Lenoir came up with a Boy Scout group and spent the weekend showing his lodge to anyone wishing to see it. He is unavailable this year but we will have two other tee pee set ups.

The W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir Park Rangers will be doing Children’s activities on Friday for Kid’s Day and on the weekend. We will be helping with leather bag making and dream catcher making for the kids. There will be displays of history and culture. Cindi Quay of Cindi’s Sacred Garden will be there to answer questions about wild plant uses. There will be flint knappers showing how arrowheads and spear points were made.

Holiday Inn Express is the host hotel. For reservations call 336-838-1800. Make sure to ask for the pow wow discount.

For information on reserving camping spots, contact the park at 1-877-444-6777, or for information on the Pow Wow call Mabel at 813-765-3073. We are a 501c3 and need help passing out fliers before the event and also help at the Pow Wow. To volunteer, call Mabel at 813-765-3073 or Ranger Juanita Souther at 336-921-3390.

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Spruce Pine Pow Wow Time Again September 11-13, 2009

The Indians are on their way to the Fourth Annual Spruce Pine Pow Wow in Spruce Pine NC on September 11 to 13. Maybe you would like to be there too! Come early, bring your lawn chairs, and stay all day. This is an educational event so there will be something interesting going on all day. Friday is Kids Day and we expect excellent participation by the schools. They will be asked to dance with the head man and head lady. The boys will learn the “stealth of the warrior” and the girls will learn the “grace and dignity” of a traditional lady dancer. There are also fun dances like the “Crow Hop”, “Buffalo Dance”, and “Snake Dance”. Even the teachers are asked to dance. And, when the Emcee says “Intertribal”, that means YOU too!

There will be something going on all day. Dancing, drumming, singing, story telling, flint knapping, gourd carving, handmade craft vendors, a tee pee, flute and contemporary music. There is even a raffle with many items worth around $100.00 each. Drawing is on Sunday afternoon. You need not be present to win. We will call you to pick up your prize.

Dave Trezak is our Emcee. He is a Native American Music Award Nominee and he and Miss Vicky Hutto will be performing each day. He does Native American flute and guitar and both he and Miss Vicky sing Native and contemporary music.

The location is just south of Spruce Pine on Hwy 226 South, behind Music, Jewelry and Loan at 12513 Hwy. 226 South. That is 2 miles south of US 19E and 2 miles north of the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 331).

Admission is $5.00 for Adults and $2.00 for Children. Friday is Kids Day and children with the schools are only $1.00. Activities will start as soon as the children arrive. Regular hours are from 9 to 9 on Friday and Saturday and 9 to 5 on Sunday.

The Blue Ridge Intertribal Pow Wow Association is a 501c3 Non Profit Corporation and we need help. We need people to pass out fliers before the event and to help at the Pow Wow. If you feel like you would like to VOLUNTEER to help, please contact Mabel at 813-765-3073.