Great Mohican Pow-Wow has fun for everyone
The 38th annual Great Mohican Pow-Wow will take place Sept. 15-17 at Mohican Reservation Campgrounds & Canoeing in Loudonville.
Now in its 38th year, the annual Great Mohican Pow-Wow will continue to offer a variety of activities for visitors of all ages.
This year’s event — which will run from Sept. 15-17 at Mohican Reservation Campgrounds & Canoeing — will use the same formats as previous years including dancing, singing, renewing old friendships and making new ones.
“There is a website with all kinds of brochures and information,” said Jennifer Settles, campground manager. “There is a drum competition and dance competitions. Flutists, tomahawk throwing and fire-making are part of the weekend activities. There is all kinds of stuff going on.”
Settles said music is a big part of the weekend with all kinds of dancers.
Gates will open Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. with the day featuring various events at the White Tent or Dance Ring.
Storytelling by Lance White Eagle, a tomahawk-throwing demo by Coyote Dog and fire-starting will begin the morning in the White Tent. Dance Ring activities that day will include eagle and hoop dancers, Silver Ridge singers and flutist Douglas Blue Feather.
The day will conclude at 5:30 p.m. with Music of the Andes Mts. by Malkuri, a group of Otavalo Indian musicians from the mountain regions north of Quito, Ecuador who play versions of indigenous folk music.
The events on Sept. 16 will feature a grand entry flag song, prayer and a veterans honor at 1 p.m. and inter-tribal dancing and a dance/drum competition beginning at 1:30 p.m.
During the grand entry, everyone is asked to stand as flags are brought into the arena. The flags generally include the United States flag, tribal flags, a POW flag and eagle staffs of various tribes present.
The weekend also will feature multiple activities for children.
“We have stuff set up for kids like crafts and beads,” Settles said. “There is kid ax-throwing along with all the storytelling. There are kids stations set up all over. It is all kid-friendly over the weekend.”
After numerous morning events on Sept. 17 including more storytelling and dancing, the grand entry proceedings will start at 1 p.m. The second round of the dancing and dance/drum competition will begin at 1:30 p.m.
At 5 p.m. the weekend will conclude as the colors and eagle staff are retired with a prize presentation and a closing prayer scheduled at the Dance Ring. The gates will close at 6 p.m.
The event will take place rain or shine with free parking and no alcohol or pets allowed.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.mohicanpowwow.com or in person at the gate. Tickets may be purchased for just one day with two-day or three-day passes also available.
Mohican Reservation Campgrounds & Canoeing is located at 23270 Wally Road in Loudonville.
“Everything is new,” Settles said. “We switch up the entertainment every year. There is new dancing (and) new storytelling, and the headliners are new as well.
“We follow the same routine as the previous festivals, but it will be a new experience for guests.”