Nottoway POW WOW 2008

The Virginia Indian Tribe at the Nottoway Pow Wow held in Surry County, Virginia shared their culture with the crowd at this event. During the opening ceremonies the color guard included veterans of wars. The Indians always honor veterans at every event.

It was a very close net family affair that included everyone from the children to the elders.

The picture to the left depicts a male Indian from a Northern Canadian Indian tribe who participated in this event.

The concession booths included an assortment of Indian food in conjunction with hot dogs and hamburgers. The handmade crafts on display were also for sale to the public.

Indians tribes from as far away as Mexico demonstrated their cultural by dancing. Before each dance was performed someone would talk about the significance if the and how it related to their way of life. The image to the right shows a male Mexican Indian dancer in his native dress.

These Mexican dancers travel across the United States to share their culture and heritage. The tales of their forefather and life before the Spanish came to what we now call Mexico was translated into folk tales and demonstrated with dance in unison with nature which they relate to the four corners of the earth.

It was as much educational as it was cultural among the Indians tribes when they requested members of the audience to join them in the area. All participants and dancers had to enter the area using the east gate.

Dressed in authentic Indian regalia the Virginia Indians demonstrated that each dance had a different meaning. Some dances required a change of costumes. Certain dances were significant for males while others were only for females, but all were performed with precision, energy and enthusiasm. Indian pride runs deep at these events as expressed in the image below.