The Guilford Native American Association will hold its 47th annual “Pow Wow” from Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22 at Country Park in Greensboro.
You can set your iPhone or other GPS device to 3802 Jaycee Park Dr. to find the fun.
Daily admission for children ages 6 and under is free; however, it’s $7 for children ages 7 thru 12 – as well as for adults 61 and up – and it’s $10 for everyone else, though there are discounted multi-day passes available.
This yearly event which highlights Native American culture, pageantry and ceremonies, features hundreds of Native American dancers as well as drum performances by various tribes from across the country meant to celebrate Native American history and culture.
There will also be Native American arts and crafts as well as food vendors at the event.
Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
A shuttle will be provided from the parking lot to the Pow Wow.
“Pow Wows” are the Native American people’s way of meeting together, and joining in dancing, singing, visiting, and eating traditional food – as well as a way of “renewing old friendships, and making new ones.”
Gates Open:
Friday, 5 p.m. through 8 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Guilford Native American Association is a non-profit Native American community organization based in Guilford County and it was established in 1975. It’s the oldest American Indian urban association in the state and it’s one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the country.
The Native American Association serves as a resource and a “home away from home” for all Native American and Indigenous people who live in Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Alamance, Forsyth, Davie, Davidson, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin, Rowan, and Chatham counties.
The land that’s now Guilford, Randolph, and Rockingham counties were once home to the Keyauwee and Saura Indian tribes.
People who plan on coming out to the 2024 Pow Wow are being encouraged to read about the Saura and Keyauwee tribes that lived on the land that later became Guilford, Randolph, and Rockingham counties. You can learn more about the Guilford Native American Association at Guilfordnative.com
One definition of a Pow Wow is “an American Indian social gathering or fair usually including competitive dancing.”
The word is sometimes used to mean “meetings” in a wider sense – however, according to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, the use of the word “pow-wow” in modern times to refer generally to “a social get-together or to a meeting for discussion” is now considered to be “an offensive appropriation of a term of great cultural importance to Indigenous Americans.”
The dictionary notes: “Use of this term in contexts not relating to Indigenous Americans or their cultures is considered offensive.”
However, in this case, where actual Native American tradition is involved, the wording is just fine.
Powwow is offensive? To whom is it offensive? It has been a common term to refer to a gathering in which a decision needs to be made after a group discussion. The term elevates an American Indians’ term into the English lexicon by recognizing American Indian unique language and culture. By erasing the non-offensive word in once-common use does the American Indians no favor. Similarly, renaming the Washington Redskins and removing the image of a genuine American Indian did the American Indians no favor. The image presented to mind a strong, determined, and worthy adversary, which especially the Plains Indians were. Liberals, please get out of the way and stop imposing your language codes on others.
Welcome back. Wasn’t it the first Democrat President, Andrew Jackson, who forced The Cherokee onto the deadly “trail of tears” march to Oklahoma?
REPARATIONS for all native Americans. White people and black people stole their land.
There are no reparations. No one is financially responsible for the sins of others.
The harm done to American Indians was done primarily by the federal government, unlike any other group. American Indians lost their culture, their way of life, and their freedom. That’s why when the federal government wants to help you, say “no thanks,” I remember the “help” that was provided to the American Indians. The old accusation of being an “Indian giver” is a reminder of the promises given by the federal government to American Indians but quickly reneged on.
Government has no conscience or morality.
In fact, it is by far the biggest mass murderer in human history.