Tunkhannock East West Pow-wow

August 15 and 16 was the East West Pow-wow and Camp Lackawanna west of Tunkhannock. The camp is at the end of the long peninsula between a loop of the Susquehanna. Markus, Carol, Bob and I drove down about 6 p.m. We were almost the only white folks present. There were about 100 people camped in the trees around a fire circle and about a dozen vendors. One person was selling buffalo burgers and Indian tacos (fry bread with pinto beans, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese). The rest were selling items, some handmade, but many made elsewhere. We just soaked up the scene. The above photo shows the trading blanket. Anyone can come and place an item in the center of the blanket and in turns people can put other things on the blanket that they are willing to trade for the first item. A description of the item is made and if a trade is successful, the parties will shake hands. The trading blanket starts with feathers. Rocks, feathers, porcupine feet, handmade chokers, beaded bobbie pins and other items were traded for several hours.

This woman from near Wilkes Barre where she works as a hospice worker was beading a barrette which will then be danced in. Her 19 year old dog is at her feet. she was very willing to talk to us and explain the various traditions.

The big event of the evening was the fire dance. There had been a procession and dancing from 1-5:30 and the Fire Dance began at 9. The drummers at the this pow-wow include women, so many chiefs would not come as this is not traditional. The man in black to the right of the fire was the chief who explained the fire dance. First various men went in and lit brands from the central fire and lit tiki lamps around the perimeter. Then, women entered the circle. Lastly, everyone was invited to dance. Bob and I got up to join the group.

It was a really interesting evening. We were struck by the community of the people there. Clearly they travel to various pow-wows during the summer. An incredible number of people smoked, an indication of their traditional use of tobacco and the fact that most people appeared to be quite poor. Alcohol wasn't visible, but there appeared to be some people who were under the influence. Kids ran around and swam in the Susquehanna and people clearly cared for each other. At one point during the evening a young woman had a grand mal epileptic seizure and though Bob got up to assist, they took care of it themselves. A woman talked and held the young woman under a blanket so there was some privacy and the flashing lights, which could trigger a seizure, wouldn't be visible. Eventually six men carried her on a blanket to her tent where she rested a short while before joining the Fire Dance.