A Thrilling Journey to the Thunderbird American Indian Powwow
A powwow is a beautiful gathering filled with dances and celebrations from various Native American and First Nations communities. Nowadays, powwows are fantastic opportunities for Indigenous people to come together, dance, sing, and celebrate their rich cultures. They can be held in all sorts of settings – private or public, indoors or outdoors – and often include exciting competitive dancing with cash prizes!
Our group from Fountain House – Holly, Mark, Julie, Dan, and Deborah – recently had the pleasure of attending the Thunderbird American Indian Powwow at the Queens County Farm Museum on Sunday, July 28. The drive, which took about an hour from Fountain House, turned out to be quite an adventure! Our driver started off unsure about handling our Fountain House-issued Toyota minivan, especially when maneuvering out of the public garage on 44th Street. Thanks to Mikey Feliciano, who helps coordinate transportation for our events, we managed to get our van sorted out, though we left about 25 minutes later than intended due to some mix-ups.
Once we hit the road, our driver set up the GPS, which amusingly led us through the Bronx. Even though our driver was a little panicked and exclaimed, “This can’t be right!” it turned out it was the perfect route—the Bronx connects to Queens via the Throgs Neck Bridge! There were a few nail-biting moments on the highways with the driver swerving to navigate merging traffic, causing some anxiety (and maybe a few angry honks) from other drivers. At one point, the GPS went haywire, throwing out multiple directions at once, but thankfully, one of us managed to connect their phone to the app for better guidance.
Finally, we arrived in one piece and couldn’t wait to dive into the powwow experience! Walking into the powwow in Little Neck, we encountered vendors selling fresh, cold lemonade, a perfect treat for the hot day, along with a variety of entrées, appetizers, and snacks. As we moved further along, we started to hear drumming and chanting, which drew us in. Chanting is a common part of Native American drum circles, along with singing, poetry, and the spoken word. The songs and chants in the circle can have many purposes, including healing, honoring ancestors, prayers, trance induction, and community building. Native American drum circles often feature different beats for particular indigenous dances. The drum is considered the heartbeat of the Native American.
The opening ceremony began with different tribes walking in a single file around the perimeter of the dance circle, showcasing their colorful regalia. The “double beat” is a type of powwow dance style that the tribes chose to dance to that day. A highlight for many of us was the central field, with hay bales set up for seating. The heat was intense, particularly for those in traditional garb and feathers dancing under the sun. The festivities kicked off with an announcement inviting different tribal representatives into the field, forming a massive circle. Each tribe got a shout-out, along with other participants like police officers and combat veterans. The costumes were stunning, and we captured some great pictures!
Just beyond the market square, Dan discovered a small farm with chickens, cows, a bull, and an alpaca, bringing to mind our own Highpoint Farm. Mark, who has a medical marijuana card, stayed relaxed throughout the trip, enjoying his vaporizer and indulging in some tasty treats, including two arepas, fried bread stuffed with beef, cheese, and salsa, along with two sweet drinks, and a cherry slurpee from 7-11 on the way home. Deborah ventured out into the sun to soak in the festivities at the central field. Holly snacked on deep-fried fish and found herself wishing she had brought extra cash to snag some indigenous crafts, jewelry, and clothing. Julie had a magical moment during the prayers to the four winds: north, south, east, and west, which left her feeling uplifted. It was heartwarming to see the children dancing in their beautiful indigenous attire, radiating joy.
Spending the day at the powwow was a glimpse into a rich, symbolic, and spiritual culture that we had the pleasure to partake in. When is the next powwow? All in all, it was another wonderful PIP event! We truly wish more people could have joined in on the fun. If you’re interested in helping us plan the next PIP or want to attend, feel free to call or text “PIP!” to 929-884-3564. We look forward to seeing you at the next one!
