Time to get your pow wow on

ADAMS – Get ready for some celebratory dance, song and drumming.

The eighth annual Rock, Rattle and Drum Pow Wow is returning to The Berkshires this summer on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 and will be held at the beautiful Bowe Field on the Adams Agricultural Fairgrounds.

The theme of the pow wow this year is Gifts of the Four Directions. Pow wows are gatherings that Native American people use as a place to meet, dance, sing, renew, strengthen and share their rich culture.

This local pow wow features authentic American Indian dancing, drumming and tribal regalia. Native Americans ranging in age from toddlers to elders will dance in several different styles including fancy, traditional, grass and jingle dress wearing traditional and contemporary regalia. Drum groups provide vocal and rhythmic accompaniment for the dancers.

A variety of American Indian culture is also to be expected expressed through vendor exhibits of arts, crafts, music, contemporary and traditional foods, and information on social and political issues that currently challenge local, regional and national American Indian communities; local non-profit organizations will also be represented.

Organizers are stressing that everyone native and non-native is welcome. In addition to watching traditional dancing, there will be times when non-natives will be invited into the dance arena to share an intertribal dance, including a candy dance for the children.

American Indian storytellers will share old native stories with the young and young at heart. American Indian vendors will sell native made arts and crafts such as native beadwork, quill work and silver. Traditional native foods such as Indian fry bread, Indian corn soup and buffalo will be available for purchase.

Back by popular demand, this year’s pow wow will feature a special performance by Arvel Bird, a Nammy Award-winning Native American violinist, flute player singer and storyteller.

Mr. Bird, a violinist and Native American flutist extraordinaire, is known around the world for his dramatic connection between Celtic and Native American traditions, stirring up scenes that echo from North American memory.

Tickets are available at the gate for only $7 for adults and $5 for seniors 65+ and youth 11-17. Children 10 and under are free. This year there are also tickets available in advance. Go to HealingWinds.net or call (413) 443-2481 for a list of ticket outlets.

Posted by Kameron Z. Spaulding on July 11, 2013. Filed under Community Events,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry