8th Annual 'Rock, Rattle & Drum' Powwow Returns
 Award-winning musician Arvel Bird is among the performers scheduled to appear at this year's powwow. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The 8th annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow opens this weekend at the Adams Agricultural Fairgrounds at Bowe Field with music, dancing, drumming and examples of American Indian culture with the theme "Gifts of the Four Directions."
The powwow runs Aug. 10-11, on Saturday from 10 to 10 and Sunday from 10 to 6. Veterans will be honored during the "Grand Entry" on both days at 1 p.m. with Chapter 65 of Vietnam Veterans of Pittsfield.
Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for seniors 65 and older and youth 11-17, and children free.
Powwws are gatherings that Native American people use as a place to meet, dance, sing, renew, strengthen and share their culture. This weekend's event includes authentic American Indian dancing, drumming and tribal regalia. Drum groups will provide vocal and rhythmic accompaniment for the dancers.
Performances will include Arvel Bird, a Nammy Award-winning violinist, flute player, singer and storyteller; the Danza Azteca dance group and the all-women a capella Wolf Cry Singers.
A variety of American Indian culture will be expressed through vendor exhibits of arts, crafts, music, contemporary and traditional foods, and information on social and political issues that currently challenge American Indian communities; local not-for-profit organizations will also be represented.
Aaron Athey of the Mohegan Nation is master of ceremonies. Award-winning dancers Hector Rosa LeBeau of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is the head man dancer and Nakia Marion of the Ojibway Nation is head woman dancer. Junior dancers are Skye Pagesiaic of the Ojibway Nation and Kendall Scott of the Wampanoag Nation.
Attendees may be invited into some of the dances, including a candy dance for the children and will be able to hear native tales from storytellers. American Indian vendors will sell nativemade arts and crafts such as native beadwork, quill work and silver. Traditional native foods such as fry bread, corn soup and buffalo will be available for purchase.
Operated by the nonprofit Healing Winds, powwow is designed to offer native people the opportunity to celebrate their identity and to visit and share with their friends in the greater community. A portion of the proceeds are being distributed to Kiwanis of Pittsfield, the Adams Lions, Eve's Fund and One Spirit/Native Progress.org.
Those attending are asked to bring a canned food for the local food pantry. For more information: healingwinds.net, 413-443-2481 or humanityinconcert@earthlink.net.
Saturday, August 10
10 a.m. – Public Welcome, Arts & Crafts Vendors Open
10:30 a.m. – Native American Flute Performance byArvel Bird
11 a.m. – Native American Storyteller
Noon - Aztec dancers, traditional indigenous dances of Mejica Nation of Mexico
1 p.m. – Grand Entry and official start of powwow with dancers, honor guard, dignitaries & special guests
Intertribal Dancing
3 p.m.– Wolf Cry Singers
3:30 p.m. – Performance by Arvel Bird
4:15 p.m. - Powwow intertribal and social dances with children's "candy dance"
6 p.m. - Retrieval of Flags
7 p.m. – Evening Performances by Wolf Cry Singers, Arvel Bird
Sunday, August 11
10 a.m. – Public Welcome – Arts & Crafts Vendors Open
10:30 a.m. – Native American flute performance by Arvel Bird
11 a.m. – Native American storyteller
Noon - Aztec dancers, traditional indigenous dances of Mejica Nation of Mexico
1 p.m. – Grand Entry and official start of pow wow: dancers, honor guard, dignitaries & special guests
Intertribal Dancing
3 p.m.– Native American Traditional Blessing/Wolf Cry Singers
3:30 p.m. – Special Performance by Arvel Bird
4:15 p.m. - Pow Wow Intertribal and Social Dances with Children’s “Candy Dance”
6 p.m. - Retrieval of Flags
Conclusion of Powwow
Tags: festival, Native American, powwow,
