All set for Nanticoke Indian Powwow Sept. 10, 11

A week before the 39th annual Nanticoke Indian Powwow, Chief Natosha Carmine was busy crossing items off the must-do list.

The group started working on this in March, said Carmine, who was sworn in as the tribe’s first woman chief in January. Now, she said, the agenda is being finalized; the programs are printed.

“Basically, everything is in except for the perishables, and those are coming in next week,” said Carmine during a quick interview Sept. 2. “There’s a lot of excitement to see it all coming together. Now we’re just hoping for good weather.”

The grand entry of flag bearers and American Indian dancers will be noon on Saturday, with a second dance session around 3:30 p.m. Sunday begins with an outdoor worship service at 10 a.m., with a grand entry and dancing at 1 p.m.

Tribal dances will highlight the powwow. In a press release, Carmine said visitors can expect to see a number of dances, including the Grass Dance, which is believed to be a blessing ceremony for new ground. The dancers would trample the grass down in preparation for a village, and grass would be tied to the dancer. As the dancer moves, the fringe of grass sways as if to simulate the natural movement of tall prairie grass. The dance is said to represent the balance of life, and dancers must perform the same movement on either the right or left. The dancer’s regalia are covered with yarn and ribbons that sway, and he wears a lot of color.

“We’re ready. At this point, people are putting their finishing touches on their regalia, and children are making sure their new outfits fit,” said Carmine.

Many tribal American Indian vendors will be on site with arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, paintings, pottery, videos, DVDs, CDs, and much more. Food vendors will provide sandwiches, succotash, Indian tacos, Indian frybread and drinks.

Except during the Sunday worship service, seating is provided for powwow participants, dancers, and handicapped individuals only.

The entrance fee is $5 per person; kids ages 12 and under are admitted free. There are a limited number of camping sites at a cost of $40 for the weekend. Parking is free.

The powwow opens at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, and at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 11. The event grounds are located in the middle of a naturally wooded area off Route 24, just west of the intersection with Route 5. Powwow signs will be posted along Route 24 between U.S. 113 and Route 1. The GPS-friendly address is 26800 John J. Williams Highway, Millsboro.

For more information, call the Nanticoke Indian Center at 302-945-3400 or the Nanticoke Museum at 302-945-7022, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, or email info@nanticokeindians.org.