The nature trail at the Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center will once again echo with the haunting music of drums when the 12th annual Inter-Tribal Powwow, Journey Home, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25. the event is a weekend of music, dancing, storytelling, demonstrations, crafts, native food, and much more.
The 2010 Powwow will also kick off a new event, “Dancing Moccasins, A Living History Weekend Celebrating Native American Cultures Then and Now.” From the sounds of native drums and singing to the smell of fry bread and the images of beautiful crafts, the delights of molding clay, shaping stone, stringing beads, or weaving baskets, visitors will have the opportunity to explore and experience Native American culture up close and personal.
“We named the Living History Weekend, Dancing Moccasins with the old adage in mind about ‘Walk a mile in my moccasins,'” said Carl Bornfriend, executive director for the museum. “Individuals who come and ‘dance in our moccasins’ during the weekend will have an opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities-some dating back hundreds of years, others newly incorporated into native culture. Imagine carving your own totem pole or creating a personal pouch or your own drum! The weekend will be jammed full of fun activities and amazing demonstrations.”
The program includes more than 40 interactive activities for individuals to “dance” in the culture-not just observe it. On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be 12 or more activities taking place every hour. Visitors may choose feather painting, beading, totem pole carving, animal tracking, hair braiding, face painting (with authentic Native American designs), storytelling, knapping, sand painting, soapstone carving, pottery, leather work, and much more.
Five workshops (lasting approximately two hours each) will also be offered — drum making, flute making, weaving (eastern woodlands style), slat baskets, and personal pouches. Other sessions will include information on the natives of Hatteras Island, natives and star quilting, natives and their relationship to birds, primitive weapons, use of herbs, as well as a session on “what a native looks like.” Drummers and singers will also offer a session explaining how the Powwow drum is made and sharing special songs. Most sessions will be offered twice daily, providing additional opportunities for everyone to get involved.
John Blackfeather, chief of the Occaneechi, will serve as Master of Ceremonies with two drum groups sharing the music arbor — Eastern Bull Singers and Na-Ma-Wo-Chi. Native dancers in beautiful regalia will fill the dance circle in the maritime forest.
“The Powwow offers an opportunity for natives with ties to the early Hatterask tribe to actually ‘journey home'” said Bornfriend. “For others, the ‘journey’ will be made in their hearts as they experience the beauties of Hatteras Island. But regardless of heritage, the soft island sand with its thick carpet of green grass offers a wonderful cushion for dancing. The Powwow is a great place to learn new skills, share the dance circle, break bread together, and make new friends.”
Activities will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday and go until 6 p.m. Sunday begins at 10 a.m. and ends with a closing ceremony at 4 p.m. Admission fees are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and school-age children, and a special family rate of $15. Children under 5 are free.
For inquiries, call 252-995-4440 or visit the museum’s web site at www.nativeamericanmuseum.org.
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