9/05/2009: 63rd Annual Shinnecock Indian Nation Powwow

Southampton - The 63rd Annual Shinnecock Powwow Gathering of Native Americans Contest Powwow and Celebration was held over Labor Day Weekend, from Sept. 4 through Sept. 7 at the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton. Over the four-day event, attendees were treated to a display of historical remembrances and traditions.

The Shinnecock Nation

According to their website "The Shinnecock Nation is among the oldest self-governing tribes of Indians in the United States and has been a state-recognized tribe for over 200 years." Every bit of that long history was on display in the magnificent costumes, headdresses and jewelry donned by participating tribes who danced majestically in the on-going competitions, aided by traditional song and music.

Continuing "Since the beginning, Shinnecock time has been measured in moons and seasons, and the daily lives of [our] people revolved around the land and the waters surrounding it. [Our] earliest history was oral, passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation, and as far back as [our] collective memory can reach, [we] are an Algonquin people who have forever lived along the shores of Eastern Long Island."

Recognizing that long tradition, attendees from all over Long Island, and beyond, came to show their respect for this tribe, and to be a part of an important ceremony that honors the Indian nation that maintains such an important role in life on the East End.