SCHEMITZUN 2008

I VISITED THE SCHEMITZUN 2008 (MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT POW WOW.) IT IS THEIR "FEAST OF GREEN CORN AND DANCE." IT WAS BEAUTIFUL SUNNY, HOT AND HUMID WEEKEND DAY.

WE DROVE PAST THE FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO AND TURNED RIGHT ON TO WINLECTOG HILL ROAD TO NORTH STONINGTON. WE TURNED LEFT INTO THE VISITORS PARKING LOT. WE DROVE DOWN A LONG DUSTY ROAD AND FINALLY TURNED AROUND INTO LARGE GRASSY FIELD. WE WERE GUIDED INTO OUR PARKING SPACES BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE ROAD WE HAD DRIVEN DOWN TO GET TO THE POW WOW. WE WALKED AND CROSSED THE ROAD . WE COULD SEE THE VENDORS TENTS AND CAMPING SET UP INSIDE THE CHAIN LINK FENCE BETWEEN US AND THE POW WOW. ON EACH SIDE OF THE COUNTRY LANE WE WERE WALKING WERE RAGGED OLD STONE WALLS. WE PASSED A BUS TAKING PEOPLE BACK TO THE CASINO. THERE WAS NO PEOPLE EITHER GUIDING THE BUSES OR THE PEOPLE WAITING TO GET ON THE BUSES.

THE ADMISSION PRICES WERE $8.00 FOR ADULTS, $ 4.00 FOR SENIORS, $4.0O FOR CHILDREN AND ADDITIONAL $5.00 IF YOU WANTED TO SEE TO THE RODEO.

ONCE INSIDE THERE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY VENDORS DISPLAYING THEIR CRAFTS AND PRODUCTS. THEY HAD GOOD SELECTIONS OF ALL KINDS OF NATIVE AMERICAN PRODUCTS IN A VARIETY OF PRICES. YOU COULD SPEND HOURS LOOKING AT THE MERCHANDISE.

WE WENT TO THE MAIN TENT TO WATCH THE DANCING AND LISTEN TO THE DRUM GROUPS. THEY HAVE A STAGE AND IN FRONT OF IT A LARGE GREEN GRASS AREA FOR THE DANCERS TO DANCE. IN A ROPED OFF AREA AROUND THE DANCERS WERE OTHER DANCERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WATCHING. ON BOTH ENDS OF THE LARGE TENT WERE TALL LARGE BLEACHERS FOR THE PUBLIC. ALTHOUGH THE VIEWING WAS NOT AS INTIMATE AS MOHEGAN WIGWAM, THE VIEW WAS STILL EXCELLENT. THE DRUMMING WAS LOADER AND MORE CLEARER THEN AT THE MOHEGAN WIGWAM. THERE WERE LOTS OF TROPHIES ON THE STAGE. DEFINITELY MORE DANCERS WERE THERE THAN AT THE MOHEGAN WIGWAM. IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE CATEGORIES AND MORE PRIZE MONEY.

OUTSIDE THE TENT ON THE SOUTH LINE STRAIGHT ACROSS TO THE ROAD WERE FOOD VENDORS. WE TRIED THE COFFEE AND SOME OTHER THINGS. EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. WE LEARNED MOST OF THE FOOD VENDORS WERE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOTS.

THERE WAS A RUMOR GOING AROUND THAT THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOTS MAY NOT CONTINUE TO DO THIS POW WOW BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE BECOMING TOO MUCH AND THE ADMISSION CHARGES DO NOT SEEM TO COVER THE COSTS. HOPEFULLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE. IT WAS AN ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON AND THE MASHANTUCKETS DO A TERRIFIC JOB. NEXT YEAR IF YOU GET THE CHANCE, CHECK IT OUT.