Post by Moon Seeker on Jun 25, 2009 19:47:06 GMT -5
Mike Modrzynski
By MIKE
MODRZYNSKI
News Staff Writer
Rogers City's Nautical Festival has featured some of the unique and interesting events over its many years, but organizers may have just outdone themselves this year, bringing in members of more than a dozen Indian tribes to perform on the beach at Lakeside Park on Aug. 8.
The event, sponsored by the Presque Isle County Historical Museum, will feature tribal members representing Ottawa, Chippewa, Mohawk, Cherokee, Kiowa and Apache Indians from throughout the country and the province of Ontario. Museum Director Mark Thompson said the possibility exists that members of as many as 10 more Michigan tribes will appear as well. He said the event is being called the Northern Lake Huron Pow Wow and will feature dancing, crafts and even food, but the best part is the event is free to the public.
"This event was held last year on the grounds of the museum, but it has grown so much that we were given permission to hold it at Lakeside Park, south of the pavilion," Thompson said. "Also, we are hosting a large group of period re-enactors at the museum and there just isn't room for both events at the same place. This will be a gathering of tribes like no one here has even seen and should be very entertaining as well."
Tom Bruning, vice-chairman of the Mackinac Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, said the gathering will kick off at 1 p.m. Saturay with the grand entry, a parade of dancers and other tribal members in costume. He said the event also will honor two old veterans from the area, one being Don Kowalski from Rogers City.
"We have quite a mixed group of tribal members from across the state and Ontario and we expect others to appear as well," Bruning said. "We will feature all sorts of dancers including a smoke dancer from Ontario. There will be craftsmen and storytellers around the dance arena too."
Head veteran is Tony Davis from the Odawa tribe in Petoskey and the head male dance will be Gildert Hinojosa from St. Ignace. Head female dancer will be Virginia Schansema from the Little Travere Band of Odawa Indians. The fire keeper for the event will be Timothy Smith from the LTTB, arena director will be Daryl Brown and the master of ceremonies will be Pat Holly from Tower.
Bruning said he has two drums, one from Ontario called Little Sun, and a youth drum from St. Ignace. The drums are teams of drummers who sit around a large usually centrally located drum to provide the music for the dancers. He said the youth drum will be blended with the adults during the event.
For more information, call Thompson at the museum at 734-4121.
Mike Modrzynski can be reached via email at mmodrzynski@yahoo.com.
thealpenanews.com/page/content.detail/id/505790.html?nav=5004
By MIKE
MODRZYNSKI
News Staff Writer
Rogers City's Nautical Festival has featured some of the unique and interesting events over its many years, but organizers may have just outdone themselves this year, bringing in members of more than a dozen Indian tribes to perform on the beach at Lakeside Park on Aug. 8.
The event, sponsored by the Presque Isle County Historical Museum, will feature tribal members representing Ottawa, Chippewa, Mohawk, Cherokee, Kiowa and Apache Indians from throughout the country and the province of Ontario. Museum Director Mark Thompson said the possibility exists that members of as many as 10 more Michigan tribes will appear as well. He said the event is being called the Northern Lake Huron Pow Wow and will feature dancing, crafts and even food, but the best part is the event is free to the public.
"This event was held last year on the grounds of the museum, but it has grown so much that we were given permission to hold it at Lakeside Park, south of the pavilion," Thompson said. "Also, we are hosting a large group of period re-enactors at the museum and there just isn't room for both events at the same place. This will be a gathering of tribes like no one here has even seen and should be very entertaining as well."
Tom Bruning, vice-chairman of the Mackinac Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, said the gathering will kick off at 1 p.m. Saturay with the grand entry, a parade of dancers and other tribal members in costume. He said the event also will honor two old veterans from the area, one being Don Kowalski from Rogers City.
"We have quite a mixed group of tribal members from across the state and Ontario and we expect others to appear as well," Bruning said. "We will feature all sorts of dancers including a smoke dancer from Ontario. There will be craftsmen and storytellers around the dance arena too."
Head veteran is Tony Davis from the Odawa tribe in Petoskey and the head male dance will be Gildert Hinojosa from St. Ignace. Head female dancer will be Virginia Schansema from the Little Travere Band of Odawa Indians. The fire keeper for the event will be Timothy Smith from the LTTB, arena director will be Daryl Brown and the master of ceremonies will be Pat Holly from Tower.
Bruning said he has two drums, one from Ontario called Little Sun, and a youth drum from St. Ignace. The drums are teams of drummers who sit around a large usually centrally located drum to provide the music for the dancers. He said the youth drum will be blended with the adults during the event.
For more information, call Thompson at the museum at 734-4121.
Mike Modrzynski can be reached via email at mmodrzynski@yahoo.com.
thealpenanews.com/page/content.detail/id/505790.html?nav=5004