They shopped for hand-made necklaces, clothing and other items, watched and in some cases joined in on traditional dances, sampled native foods and were treated to a variety of colorful and spellbinding performances when the 24th annual Native American Intertribal Pow-wow came to Haverhill.
For two days, Saturday and Sunday, the Plug Pond recreation and picnic area saw hundreds of visitors who came to immerse themselves in Native American culture during an event put on by Native Americans from across the region. Presented by the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness and the city's Recreation Department, this event attracts people from across the region.
This year's pow-wow featured performances by Native American hoop dancer Celina Cada-Matasawagon, who performed during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver, British Columbia. Music was in the air and included drumming and singing performed by the Iron River Singers of Southeastern Massachusetts. Other dancers dressed in stunning native clothing included First Nation Mi'kmaq Tony Crilley of Gloucester and Warm Springs Apache and Cherokee Kainoa Blackeagle of Worcester.
Claudia Fox Tree, M.Ed. led an interactive presentation on Sunday about assumptions that have been made about Native Americans, while Loril Moondream and Peter White Fox of Shutesbury made crafts and sold porcupine quill bracelets to children and their families. Visitors got to tour a tipi and sample foods such as buffalo burgers and corn soup made by a native family from Attleboro. More information is available online at mcnaa.org.
