By Adam Kramer
Members of the Shinnecock, Cherokee and Seminole tribes prowled around the Flushing Town Hall auditorium Sunday as if they were out on the hunt, while four other Native Americans chanted a traditional song and kept the beat of the dance by pounding on a giant drum.
The Native Americans, who are part of the Northeastern Native American Association in Hollis, were performing the sneak-up dance, a traditional Native-American hunters dance, during the first pow-wow or “gathering of medicine men and spiritual leaders” to be held indoors at the Flushing Town Hall at 137-35 Northern Blvd.
As the dancers – wearing traditional dress – moved around the packed auditorium, the eyes of the 500-strong crowd followed their every move. One little girl in a pink sweater with her hair in braids lay on the floor, waving and smiling at each dancer every time they passed in front of her.
“The tradition of the pow-wow, for Native Americans, is extremely important to us because even the government is trying to take our rights way,” said Chief Mecco Stand High, the principle chief of the Northeastern Native American Association. “We are Native American and we want to keep our tradition. We are proud of what we are and want to stay who we are.”
The chief said the pow-wow is a happy occasion, a gathering to celebrate a successful hunt, food gathering, warfare or to honor special events such as name-giving ceremonies, rites of passage and to renew allegiances with visiting tribes.
“Certain pow-wows are not open to the public.” he said. “Entertainment pow-wow is for the public. The reservation pow-wow is different than the main line pow-wow because the Earth is destroyed. But on the reservation the land is still sacred, where you are not going to get on no way no how.”
He said the pow-wow provides an opportunity to teach the Native-American culture and traditions to people who are not familiar with their history. Most of the time the dancing and traditions draw great audience reaction. In addition, the people who come to see the show enjoy themselves and have learned something when they leave, he said.
“I love it,” said Roxanna Morales of Forest Hills as she tapped her legs to the beat of the drum. “I am from Costa Rica and I have Indian blood in me.”
The event is an important learning tool because it brings people together from different walks of life and teaches them about other cultures and traditions. “It is one of the best things you can do,” she said.
“It is wonderful, I like it,” said Kristan Sivells of Springfield Gardens. “I went to one in Southampton and now I go to all the pow-pows I hear about. My family is part Cherokee and Lumbi so I come to find out about other tribes and my tribe.”
The more than 50 Native Americans entertained the crowd from noon to 6 p.m. with native dances: the grass dance, snake dance, shawl dance and people dance, in addition to drumming and singing.
“The real pow-wow starts after the pow-wow,” said the chief as he let out a huge belly laugh.
