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Traditional celebration marks end of inter-tribal meetings on Indian Island By Meg Haskell
Saturday, June 28, 2008 - Bangor Daily News  INDIAN ISLAND, Maine - Wrapping up a week of inter-tribal meetings on Indian Island, the Penobscot Nation hosted a spirited weekend powwow, open to the public - the first of what is expected to become a yearly cultural celebration on the reservation near Old Town.
The powwow opened at 1 p.m. Saturday with a procession of about 50 dancers and tribal officials into the roped-off dance circle, accompanied by traditional drumming and singing. Flags of the tribes of the Wabanaki Confederacy were placed around the cedar gazebo that sheltered groups of drummers and singers from an overcast sky, as dancers in tribal dress circled the structure. As part of the opening ceremonies, a special dance honored the flags and a second dance honored military veterans. Dancers represented the four main Algonquin tribes — Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac and Maliseet — as well as the Wampanoag, Cree, Narragansett, Spirit Lake Sioux and other tribes. Head dancers for the hosting Penobscots were Joseph Dana and Laura Priest, young adults dressed in elaborate tribal regalia who led the dances with poise and expressiveness. "My responsibility is to go out and be an ambassador for the Wabanaki Confederacy," said Priest, who is 22 and lives in Old Town. Wearing an iridescent, beribboned turquoise and purple dress with matching leggings, Priest said her Penobscot name, Acesatake, means "dragonfly." Her white-fringed shawl sparkled with hand-beaded dragonflies, and as she danced around the circle in soft white moccasins, she dipped and swirled as if she were taking wing. The high-stepping, swooping style of dancing Laura Priest specializes in is called "fancy shawl dancing," said her sister Amy Priest, 27. "It’s like you’re dancing on the clouds; it’s like you’re flying." In addition to the dancing and drumming, the powwow featured vendors with traditional Native American crafts. About 250 non-dancing attendees enjoyed the first day of the powwow. Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis said the colorful and symbolic powwow marked the end of "a powerful week of unification among the tribes." Tribal leaders from across Canada and New England have been meeting on Indian Island since Tuesday to explore common interests and concerns. http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=166462&zoneid=176 |
