ON SATURDAY AUGUST 30, 2008, MY 2 DAUGHTERS, GRANDSON AND I TRAVELED TO SOUTHAMPTON, LONG ISLAND TO SEE THE SHINNECOCK POW WOW.
IT WAS A CLOUDY DAY, IN FACT IT SPRINKLED ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE WAY THERE. WHEN WE GOT THERE WE WERE PARKED IN A LARGE GRASS LOT BY YOUNG MEN WEARING ORANGE T-SHIRTS WITH THE SHINNECOCK TRIBAL SYMBOL ON THEM. WE WALKED ABOUT A BLOCK TO THE ENTRANCE. THE COST WAS FOR ADULTS $10.00 AND CHILDREN WAS $7.00,
ONCE INSIDE YOU SEE A CIRCULAR STAGE MADE OF CONCRETE BLOCKS THAT IS ABOUT SIX FEET ABOVE GROUND. AROUND THE OUTSIDE IS A RAMP THAT LEADS UP TO THE TOP OF THE STAGE. THE STAGE IS PAINTED WHITE AND LOOKS LIKE A BIG DRUM LAYING FLAT ON THE GROUND. ABOUT TWENTY FEET FROM THE STAGE IT IS ROPED OFF TO KEEP THE PATRONS AWAY FROM THE STAGE. FROM THE ROPE OUTWARD PEOPLE WERE SITTING IN FOLDING CHAIRS AND LAYING ON BLANKETS ON THE GRASS. ABOUT ONE HUNDRED FEET OUT FROM THE STAGE WERE SMALL ALUMINUM BLEACHERS.
TOTALLY IN A BIG SQUARE AROUND THE STAGE WERE ALL THE VENDORS. SOME WERE BEHIND THE STAGE UNDER TREES, IT FELT VERY WOODSIE. THE INTERESTING THING WAS THE MERCHANDISE VENDORS AND THE FOOD VENDORS WERE ALL MIXED TOGETHER. NO SPECIAL AREAS.
THE FOOD PRICES WERE CHEAP, HOWEVER YOU GOT VERY SMALL PORTIONS. THE PRICE OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CRAFTS WERE GOOD. THEY HAD A COMPETITION BIG DRUM (FOR DRUM GROUP) FOR $500.00. THERE WERE LOTS OF OTHER BARGAINS. YOU DO HAVE TO WATCH WHAT YOU BUY. IT LOOKED LIKE SOME OF THINGS MAY HAVE COME FROM OVERSEAS. WE PURCHASED A BASKET AND A COMBINATION PIPE/TOMAHAWK.
THEY HAD LESS DANCERS THAN WHAT WE HAVE AT OUR MOHEGAN WIGWAM, BUT THE VIEW WITH LESS DANCERS MADE IT MORE VISUAL AND MORE INTIMATE. THE DRUM GROUPS WERE VERY GOOD, THE MALE SINGER WAS EXCELLENT.
IT WAS GOOD TO GO TO THIS POW WOW, ALL THE MONEY RAISED GOES TO THE CHURCH AND TRIBE. ONE THING YOU REALIZE WHEN YOU VISIT IS THEY ARE A POOR TRIBE AND YOU WANT TO HELP THEM. THE TRIBE WAS A WONDERFUL HOST.
IF YOU GET THE CHANCE NEXT YEAR, VISIT THE SHINNECOCK POW WOW. YOU WILL BE HAPPY YOU DID.
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