95 th Annual PO WW OW Mashpee Wampanoag
Brief History of the Mashpee Wampanoag Welcome to Mashpee, the home of our tribe for approximately 11,000 years. Many a storm and visitor has swept through our woods and found comfort on our beaches both fresh and salt. Our first visitors from the west were the Vikings during the year of 1004. They anchored in Waquoit Bay and stayed for quite a while longer than most folks use their time-share abodes. We ve seen many come and go like Verrazano, Cabot, Zunis, Lenape and other explorers. We have a history of hospitality one might say. Our culture directs us to be kind, friendly, and hospitable which allowed the early English settlers to prosper. The Mashpee Wampanoag are one of three surviving tribes of the original sixty-nine in the Wampanoag Nation. The other two tribes still living on their original homelands are the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) on Martha s Vineyard and the Herring Pond Tribe in Bournedale. The Marshpee (later called Mashpee) tribe was under the oversight of English missionaries for nearly 200 years. The reservation period in Mashpee officially began in 1677 and restricted our freedom until 1868. From that time up until around 1975 the tribe ran the town government of Mashpee. We became overwhelmed with new residents that very quickly took control of the direction of the town with an easy five to one vote. Today the Mashpee Indian population is less than 10%. Economically the tribe has adapted and managed in a number of different ways besides hunting, fishing, and planting. During the 17 th and 18 th centuries we were involved in the fur, rope, timber, and sassafras trade. In the 19 th and early 20 th centuries Mashpee Wampanoag men were engaged in the whaling industry sailing the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Indian Oceans. Those mariners were usually out to sea for at least a year at a time hunting whales. The fishing is still great here in Mashpee. Our rivers, the Mashpee and Quashnet, have been loaded with herring during the spring months. Smoked herring were exported to Europe from Mashpee during the 20 th century. The cranberry industry and a broom factory in Mashpee also once provided local employment. Today most Mashpee Natives are employed in the building and health care industries or working for the tribe in a variety of professions. Subsistence farming, fishing, and hunting are still practiced by tribal members. See you down the bay; try hard not to leave a footprint. 1
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has both traditional and conventional leadership for our people. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is a federally recognized tribe (2007), allowing it to actively participate in federal programs designed for Indian Nations. We maintain a government to government relationship with all federal agencies to support the health, education, and welfare needs of the tribe. Our traditional leadership includes the Chief and his Circle of advisors, Medicine Man, and Clan Mothers. The Chief and Medicine Man have permanent seats at the Tribal Council table to ensure cultural concerns are included in decision-making. Tribal members seek advice, ceremony, and social justice from these leaders. The 95 th Annual Powwow is being held at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds at 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway (Rte. 151) in E. Falmouth, MA. This year s theme is Honoring Our Circle - Breaking the Cycle of Addiction. The powwow is a traditional celebration of Mashpee Wampanoag culture, featuring Native American dancing, drumming, games, food art, jewelry, wampum, gifts, crafts and clothing. The tribe is offering up to $30,000 in prize money for dance and drum competitions throughout the weekend. Scheduled events and special performances include Host Drum: Southern Eagle, the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers, New England Birds of Prey, Wampanoag Powwow Princess Contest, traditional clambake and a ceremonial fire-ball game. The powwow will feature Master of Ceremonies Earl Chiefie Mills Jr., Head Dancers Deacon Wayne Big Oak Jackson and Winona Hendricks, and Arena Director David Weeden. The Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow is open to the public and offers events and attractions for the whole family. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. each day. By Ramona Peters 2
About our Powwow Princess Wuneekesuq (good day)! Nutus8ees Abigail Peters- Booth (my name is Abigail Peters - Booth). I am 16 years old and also the daughter of Joanne Peters and Daniel Booth. My brother is Daniel (D.J. Peters-Booth), the granddaughter of Edward and Jayne Peters, the great-granddaughter of Ellsworth and Abigail (Pocknett) Peters and the great-great granddaughter of Lyman and Gracie Peters. I m also from the Bear Clan and my clan mother is Mother Bear (Anita Peters). I am a very humble dancer. I ve danced traditional, fancy and I am currently dancing jingle. I m also involved in other traditional activities such as youth cultural and dance class. I dance to honor my ancestors, my family, and our Creator. I have been currently involved in youth council for 3 years as a councilwoman. I also observed youth council for 2 years before I joined. Because of youth council I was eligible to attend the National UNITY Conference (Arizona) in 2012 and gained leadership skills to bring back to my tribe. Additionally, I have sung with the Lady Hawk singers at practice and I found a love for it. I have also helped my grandfather with his vendor stand during powwows. As a junior in high school I enjoyed being a varsity cheerleader and I like English and History. I attended the Native Tribal Scholars program for 3 years to encourage me to go to college. I am currently attending this program. I plan to move on to college and graduate with my masters in nursing and my goal is to work full-time at Boston Children s Hospital as a Registered Nurse and to use the knowledge I have now and in my future to help our tribal people. I am honored and humble to be powwow princess 2015-2016. As princess I hope to accomplish that our elders and youth come together as our elders have wisdom and knowledge of our traditions to teach our youth. I love our culture and traditions and hope to accomplish an amazing year as powwow princess. Thank you and good medicine to all. 3
P r o u d ly S u pp o r t i n g t h e 9 5 t h A n n u a l M as h p e e W ampa n o a g C o n g r at u lat i o n s from
Powwow Schedule: Friday, July 1 st 10:00 AM Gates Open 11:00 AM Music provided by John Lopes 12:45 PM Opening Prayer: Medicine Man Earl Soaring Eagle Cash Welcome: Chairman Cedric Running Bear Cromwell 1:00 PM Grand Entry Line Up Flag Song Victory Song Veterans 2:00-5:00 PM Intertribal and Contest Dancing Tiny Tots Golden Age: Men s & Women s Juniors: Boy s & Girl s Inter-Tribal: Drummers Choice 5:00-6:00 PM Intermission Native Women of Mashpee Blanket Dance Pueblo Dancers Wampanoag Singers and Dancers 7:00 PM Grand Entry Line Up Flag Song Retreat song/retire the Flags Dance Exhibition Golden Age Juniors Intertribal and Contest Dancing Teens Adults Hand Drum Special 5
Powwow Schedule: Saturday, July 2 nd 10:00 AM Gates Open 11:00 AM Music provided by John Lopes 12:45 PM Opening Prayer: Vice Chairwoman Jessie Little Doe Baird Welcome: Chairman Cedric Running Bear Cromwell 1:00 PM Grand Entry Line Up Flag Song Victory Song Veterans 2:00-5:00 PM Intertribal and Contest Dancing Tiny Tots Golden Age: Men s & Women s Juniors: Boy s & Girl s 5:00-6:00 PM Intermission Honoring Hōkūle a Native Women of Mashpee Blanket Dance Pueblo Dancers Wampanoag Singers and Dancers Intertribal and Contest Dancing Intertribal: Drummer s Choice Teens Adults Specials Princess Special Honoring Our Women Past & Present Ianoxoo Men s Traditional Special 7:00 PM Retire the Flags 7:30 PM (Dusk) Fireball 6
Powwow Schedule: Sunday, July 3 rd 10:00 AM Gates Open 11:00 AM Music provided by John Lopes 12:45 PM Opening Prayer: Aquinnah Medicine Man Jason Baird Welcome: Chairman Cedric Running Bear Cromwell 1:00 PM Grand Entry Line Up Flag Song Victory Song Veterans 2:00 PM Intertribal and Contest Dancing Dance Off Tribal Youth Dance Class: Blanket Dance Specials Alice Lopez Melvin Coombs Team Dance Special Matriarch Special Warrior Special Aliyah Eternal Blossom Brunson Hicks Family Honoring Fireball Honor Song Princess Exhibition and Crowning Honor Song of Those Who Have Passed 3:00 PM Lady Hawks Clambake Intertribals Awards Retire the Flags 7
Please Remember to Thank Our Friends of the Powwow
From the Powwow Committee On behalf of the 2016 Pow Wow Committee, we would like to take this time and thank you for being a part of our homecoming. This is one of the most anticipated events provided by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe that brings our family and friends together to honor The People of the First Light. This committee has worked very hard to make this event possible and we hope you all enjoyed your time with us. We hope to see you again next year! Thank you, Brian Weeden, Chair Cassie Jackson, Secretary Ronalda Charlton, Treasurer Delscena Hicks, Member Danna Floyd, Member Stanley Dutra, Member Diane Johnson, Member John Hughes, Member Anne Marie Adkew, Member Please Remember to Thank Host Drum: Honor Drum: Head Dancer: Head Dancer: Head Dancer: Head Dancer: Emcee: Arena Director: Southern Eagle, Maxton, NC Red Hawk Singers, Mashpee, MA Deacon Wayne Big Oak Jackson Winona Hendricks Keon Jackson Rachael Miranda Earl Chiefy Mills David Weeden 9
Ahshum8ut Mâseepee MASHPEE WAMPANOAG Pup8neesut Kut8ut Weeqâyut Sôty8ut T RIB E Save the Date for our 96 th Annual Powwow June 30 - July 2, 2017 For more information about the Mashpee Wampan0ag Powwow, call (508) 477-0208 or email powwow@mwtribe.com.