Haverhill pow-wow goes on despite rain

HAVERHILL — Poor weather and rumors of cancellation didn't deter Clara Fox Tree and her five children from celebrating their Native American heritage yesterday.

She and her five children packed themselves into two tents for some extreme camping through the rainy weather and winds to participate in the Haverhill Intertribal Native American Pow-wow at Plug Pond.

"It's one way I can keep my kids connected to my Native American heritage," said Fox Tree, a native of Bedford.

The pow-wow, now in its 20th year, was supposed to be canceled yesterday, but when vendors and dancers showed up anyway, event officials opened the gates to the public, said Burne Stanley-Peters, president of the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness.

Stanley-Peters founded the center in 1989, and has coordinated the Haverhill pow-wow and similar events around the state for the last 20 years.

Members of tribal nations from all over the United States and Canada come to the pow-wow every year, but for many locals, seeing familiar faces is the high point of the event.

Ricky Simaratana, a member of the Pocasset Wompanoag Nation, has gone to pow-wows around the country, but the Stoneham native enjoys the ones held in his home state the most.

"I used to go to some pow-wows in Florida," Simaratana, 61, said. "They were good, but here it's family."

Simaratana, who attended the pow-wow dressed in traditional Native American garb, said hearing stories from tribal elders so he can pass them on and keep the culture alive is one of the most important parts of the event for him.

"I always try to learn from these elders," he said. "Because once they are gone, there is no one to pass on the tradition."

Fox Tree, a member of the Arawac tribe, said the pow-wow also serves as an opportunity to show that Native American stereotypes are untrue.

"We are educated, we have jobs," Fox Tree, a board member for the MCNAA, said. "We aren't alcoholics — how we look isn't like (Cleveland Indians' mascot) Chief Wahoo."

If the rain holds off, the pow-wow will continue today with limited drumming and dance performances. There will also be vendors selling traditional clothing jewelry and cuisine.

Photos

Tim Jean/Staff photos CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Stephanie Muise, 16, of Haverhill, from the Mikmaq tribe in Nova Scotia, dances during the 20th annual Intertribal Native American Pow-wow at Plug Pond. Ron Noel, of the Nipmuc tribe in Central Massachusetts, performs the ÒSneak Up Dance.Ó George Thomas, of the Pequot tribe in Connecticut, performs dressed as a traditional dancer.