Monday, May 13, 2013

"Drums On the Pocomoke" This Weekend

Photo/ Assateague People
Once again the sound of Native Drums will echo down the banks of the Pocomoke River and throughout the town.

The 20th Annual
“Drums on the Pocomoke”
will take place at Cypress Park
 in Pocomoke City on
Saturday and Sunday,
May 18 & 19, 2013
 
 
The park opens to the public at
10:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm each day 
 the Grand Entry at noon.
 
This event is hosted by
 Chief Larry “Medicine Cat” Smack
 and the Assateague Peoples Delmarva.
 
Also this year there will be two drums featured. The host drum NaMaWoChi (which stands for Native Man Woman Child) from North Carolina. Guest drum will be the Red Storm Drum and Dance Troupe from New York.
 
The song that they sing and drum too, are hundreds of years old and are about the Native religion and sung in the native language.
 
The Head Lead Male Matt Clair and Head Lead Lady Chris Wheeler and the MC will be Doug “Deer Dreamer” Vass.
Photo/ Assateague People
 
The tribe is expecting more than 100 dancers demonstrating the different styles of native dance that include Northern and Southern Traditional, Fancy, Jingle and Hoop.  There will be a large and impressive display of Eastern Shore Indian Artifacts provided by Mark Greenly of Virginia.

Dozens of Pow Wow vendors will be on hand selling some of the finest Native American crafts available. Some of those items may include Dream Catchers, beadwork, Turquoise jewelry, breast plates, hand fans, herbs, soaps and different crafting items.
There will also be two Native Food vendors 
(Accohannock Tribe and the American Indian Society of Washington, DC) so that everyone can taste Native inspired foods such as Buffalo Burgers, Fry Bread and Indian Taco’s. Also,  Eastern Shore favorites like Oyster Fritters, Fried Clams and Fish to mention a few. 

Sacred Friends - Wildlife Rehabilitation who work to educate the public concerning  the coexistence with wildlife will have a booth set up so that anyone can get a close glimpse of two red tailed hawks that are part of their educational programs.  This program is completely dependent on donations for food, housing and medicine for rehabilitant injured animals so that they can be released back into the wild.
Photo/ Assateague People
 
There a lot of people who know they have Native American heritage that seek to know more about the culture and information pertaining to their ancestors.  Pow Wow’s are the best place for spectators  to interact and learn about Native Dancers, singers, drummers, artist craft persons and the culture.

 Chief Medicine Cat states that he always loves this pow wow, because of the "making of new friends and renewing old friendships. Celebrating all the gifts that the Creator and Mother Earth have been generous to bestow upon us. To remember the old ways and to preserve his tribes heritage and traditions". He and the Assateague People can not express enough gratitude to the Citizens and Government of Pocomoke City for all of the support over the last 20 years.
 
If you have never been to the Drums on the Pocomoke Pow Wow this is the one time you do not want to miss this great opportunity.
 
Admission
$5.00 for Adults
 Ages 5 to  11 ~ $3
children 4 and under FREE
 
**Veterans and Active Duty Military are Free with I.D. **
 
**The Pocomoke Discovery Center will offer half price admission to everyone who attends the pow wow with a hand stamp.**
 
  For more info:  Assateague People on Facebook.
 
Thanks, Valerie!

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