September 19, 2005

Nause Waiwash Festival completes it's 13th Festival

The Nause-Waiwash wants to thank all the visitors, dancers, workers and vendors for their participation in our festival. At the present time, all signs point to a very successful even

September 19, 2005

At powwow, a celebration of culture
By Monique Lewis
Daily Times Staff Writer

CAMBRIDGE -- Pam and Dennis Pitt quickly joined other couples in a ring to dance an American Indian two-step at Sailwinds Park on Sunday.
"If the lady asks you to dance and you don't dance, you gotta pay her $5," said Chief Winterhawk, also known as Sewell E. Winterhawk Fitzhugh, to the crowd.
The Sweetwater and Red Forest singers traded off drumming soft and loud beats in the background.
Every child should come to the festival at least once because it's educational, said Pam Pitt of Hurlock as she ate fried bread at the 13th annual Native American Festival.
The vendors and performers traveled from as far as New Mexico, Florida, Canada and Oklahoma, Chief Winterhawk said.
"They leave home and stay away for months because they go from one powwow to the next," he said.
The Nause-Waiwash are the remnants of what Europeans call Nanticoke, Choptank and Pocomoke tribes who fled into the marshes in the 1700s, he said.
About 40 more tribes were also among the performers, Chief Winterhawk said. They ranged from Chippewa to Navajo and from Mohican to Cherokee -- and there may be more because some don't sign up on the attendance list, he said.
"Many people dance for healing -- to revive the spirit," he said. "It helps us rejuvenate ourselves. It is so special to them and they feel (that registering) would lessen the respect or feeling for the arena."
The cedar pole in the middle of the arena is sacred, he said. It represents the never-ending life cycle -- no end and no beginning -- which is also represented in the Nause-Waiwash's colors and travel directions.
Yellow (east) represents the female, green (south) stands for growth into adulthood, red (west) means maturity into parenthood and white (north) is grandparenthood and wisdom, Chief Winterhawk said.
There are about 300 persons enrolled in the Nause-Waiwash tribe, and another 500 non-enrolled use the tribal office, he said.
"Thirteen years ago, I asked my people why do we want to do this," he said.
He said his people gave three reasons: to educate the public and hold onto their culture, raise the self-esteem of their people and raise money for their tribal office and longhouse, a Methodist meeting hall built circa 1870.
Lori Bratten of Eldorado said she came because she has American Indian heritage. Bratten said it's important for the community to realize that the Nause-Waiwash were and are a peaceful nation.
Dennis Pitt said all Americans should have the same value and respect for all human beings, and the land, as American Indians have.
"If they did, it'd be a lot better world," he said.
Reach Monique Lewis at 410-845-4656 or mlewis@salisbury.gannett.com.
September 17, 2005