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7th Annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow, 2012 / By Susan Jameson

8/8/2012

1 Comment

 
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7th Annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow
America – Healing Her Spirit!

WHEN: Saturday, August 11, 2012 (10am-7pm)
             Sunday, August 12, 2012 (10am-6pm)
             Grand Entry on both days at 1pm.
WHERE: Mount Greylock (at the base of the mountain)
              Wirtes Farm, 45 Greylock Road , Lanesboro, MA 
              (Access road from Route 7 next to Vacation Village)
  • Grammy & Nammy Award Winner Joseph FireCrow!
  • Nammy Award Winner, “Lord of the Strings,” Arvel Bird!
  • A Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire 2012 grant recipient!



Pow Wow is happening rain or shine! Rain place - Mt. Greylock High School on Route 7, Williamstown, MA. All tickets are available at the gate. Pow Wow One Day Admission: $8 for Adults, $6 for Seniors 65+ and Youth 11-18, free for Children 10 and under.


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It’s Pow Wow time again! After seven years of celebratory dance, song, and drumming, this year’s 7th Annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow will explode in another weekend of American Indian music, dance, education, entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, and cultural festivities fun for the whole family!

The 7th Annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow is returning to the Berkshires this summer on Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12, 2012 and will be held at the beautiful Wirtes Farm at the base of Mt. Greylock in Lanesboro, MA. The theme of our Pow Wow this year is America – Healing Her Spirit! 

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Pow Wows are gatherings that Native American people use as a place to meet, dance, sing, renew, strengthen, and share their rich culture. Our Pow Wow features authentic American Indian dancing, drumming, and tribal regalia. Native Americans ranging in age from toddlers to elders will dance in several different styles including fancy, traditional, grass, and jingle dress wearing traditional and contemporary regalia. Drum groups provide vocal and rhythmic accompaniment for the dancers.

A variety of American Indian culture is also expressed through vendor exhibits of arts, crafts, music, contemporary and traditional foods, and information on social and political issues that currently challenge local, regional, and national American Indian communities. Local not for profit organizations may also be represented.

Everyone native and non-native is welcome. In addition to watching traditional dancing there will be times when non-natives will be invited into the dance arena to share an intertribal dance. American Indian storytellers will share old native stories with the young and young at heart. American Indian vendors will sell native made arts and crafts such as native beadwork, quill work and silver. Traditional native foods such as Indian fry bread, Indian corn soup, and buffalo will be available for purchase.


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This year’s Pow Wow will feature special performances by Grammy and Nammy Award Native American flutist Joseph FireCrow, Nammy Native American violinist and flute player Arvel Bird, Danza Azteca – Aztec Dance Group and much, much more! Aaron Athey of the Mohegan Nation will once again be our Master of Ceremonies.

Our Head Man Dancer is David Weeden, Mashpee Wampanoag - "Weenaatainnini," One Who Walks Alone.  Head Woman Dancer is Keesha Brown, Narraansett/Mashpee Wampanoag. Junior Head Woman is Kendall N. Scott, Mashpee Wampanoag. Our Host Drum is Eastern Suns, a Northern Drum from Mashpee, MA, and our Honor Drum are the Rez Dogs, a Northern Drum from Indian Island, Maine.

Special Honorings

A special veteran's honoring and presentation during the Grand Entry on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm will be made by the 65th Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of Pittsfield.

On Saturday, August 11, at 3pm, for her commitment to ensuring that blind individuals have every opportunity for success in their lives, Healing Winds and the Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow is recognizing Janet LaBreck as the 2012 Rock, Rattle & Drum Honoree. Pittsfield, MA, native Janet LaBreck lost her vision by the age of ten, but has never let her disability get in the way of her dreams. In 2007, after more than 20 years as an advocate for the blind community, Janet was appointed Commissioner for The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. As an ambassador for more than 35,000 legally blind residents, Janet has spearheaded campaigns to increase employment opportunities for the blind. The Commission’s award winning internship program has an 80% successful employment rate and has been replicated by nine states throughout the country. Janet will be joined by her trusty guide dog, Osbourne.



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On Sunday, August 12, at 3pm there will be a traditional Native American devotion honoring the canonization of the first Native American Saint, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be declared a Blessed. It is believed that Kateri has performed many miracles since her death, curing the sick and helping those in need through their prayers to Kateri. After much investigation concerning Kateri's miracles, she was declared venerable by Pope Pius XII on January 3, 1943.  On February 18, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially announced that Tekakwitha will be canonized on October 21, 2012.

Berkshires Connection to Kateri Tekakwitha

After having been closed in 2009 by the Diocese of Springfield, the newly reopened Chapel of the North American Martyrs in Lanesborough has begun plans to incorporate a shrine to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha at its site. Planning has begun with the intent of completing the shrine by the October canonization of the Native American saint.

Joseph FireCrow

Grammy Award winner Joseph FireCrow is one the most gifted Native American flute players in the world today. Joseph’s CD, FACE THE MUSIC, has been honored by NAMA (Native American Music Awards) as the winner of both ARTIST OF THE YEAR and FLUTIST OF THE YEAR  Some of his other accomplishments include a  Grammy nomination in the Best Native American Music Album category and three Native American Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year.

Arvel Bird

Celtic Fusion recording artist Arvel Bird is known around the world for his dramatic connection between Celtic and Native American traditions, stirring up scenes that echo from North American memory.  His music evokes the soul of North American history and is thoroughly entertaining, but also enlightening and humanizing. 


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Pow Wow Information

Pow Wows offer native people the opportunity to celebrate their identity and to visit and share with their friends in the greater community. This special event is about building and celebrating community and respecting the culture, history and the traditions of our First Nations People. For more information please go to healingwinds.net, call 413-443-2481 or email humanityinconcert@earthlink.net.

Healing Winds

Healing Winds, the non-profit producing and host organization has been producing Pow Wows and cultural events in the fashion of a movable feast bringing public awareness and appreciation for the Mohican and Algonquin speaking tribes and nations within the bio-regional and cultural footprint of the tri-states, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.



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Healing Winds is currently involved in a research project to promote the historical significance of Route 7 as the Mohican and Algonquin Heritage Trail. It was the original footpath for trade and travel between the Mohicans and Abenakis and European English, French and the American settlers and farmers. The 7th Annual American Indian Pow Wow hopes to inspire local communities, public officials and states representatives to register Route 7 as the Mohican & Algonquin Heritage Trail to honor the history and contributions of Mohican and Algonquin people and cultures in founding early America and their contribution to contemporary America .

The Legend of Chief Greylock 

Mount Greylock was sacred to the Mohicans. Chief Greylock was born around 1660 in a Waronoke village, which is now the town of Westfield, MA. His native name was Wawamolewat. The Waronokes were a part of the Pocumtuck Confederacy – Mohican and Abenacki of Central Massachusetts. They were great fur trappers and hunters, in 1674 they moved to the Berkshires, north of Stockbridge Mass, then wandered north near Adams, Massachusetts, and on to Schaghticoke, New York.

Chief Greylock lived in a secret cave on the slopes of Mount Greylock, where he harassed the British settlers as they moved into his domain.  On May 10 - 14, 1990 rain fell for four days and nights, and then tons of rocks, earth, and trees crashed down the side of Mount Greylock. In the morning a giant face appeared on the eastern slope overlooking the town of Adams, Massachusetts, in Berkshire County. Most people see the face of an old Indian Chief. They call him Chief Greylock.  He was often called the "frowning Chief of the Waronokes," he made quite an impact on the local history of Berkshire County. His name, Wawamolewat, means "Sacred Ground."

Once again, he stands watch over it.    

1 Comment
Catherine Paton link
8/9/2012 10:11:12 pm

Joseph Firecrow is a healing windsong with both his music, stories and overall appreciation for his tradtional culture and our American one too. There may be a youtube video from www.catv6.com which recorded a recent program done in Canaan CT. I got to go to one of the Healing Winds Pow Wows in the past and felt welcomed and inspired by their wonderful gathering. Let's celebrate the many cultural gatherings that help us all feel valued, that we belong and that we are part of a meaningful solution to 'reach out a hand while still on lnad'. Peace and love to all living with hope and well-being in their hearts, especially through difficult times of change, loss, or even heatwaves. Check on neighbors and others in your circles and areas, let the good vibes flow for to care and share your friendship and support.

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