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Native Americans

Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Object Details

Introduction
The focus for the 1975 Native Americans program was the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy: the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora, tribal groups whose government had been in effect for hundreds of years and served as a model for our federal system. The Grand Council of the Iroquois Confederacy directly influenced the creation of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the U.S. Never before had the Native American Festival presentation been so closely interrelated to American history. The Grand Council was discussed in workshops in the Learning Center where a history in photographs was on display. Members of the Iroquois are a major force in the lacrosse industry - from creating sticks to providing the athletes. Lacrosse was played in competition in the Native Americans area daily, and lacrosse stick making was part of the craft demonstrations along with silversmithing, wood and bone carving, basketry, and beadwork. Iroquois singing and dancing took place daily. Friday evenings, visitors were invited to participate in social dancing. The friendship dance, round dance, rabbit dance and stomp dance were demonstrated. Native American food that was demonstrated and sampled included fry bread, corn and sassafras tea. Festival presentations traced the role of maize from crop through harvest; from food preparation in soups and breads, to the use of husks by craftspeople in toys, dolls and ceremonial masks. In the Learning Center participants from various other Eastern Indian tribes recounted their influence on European settlers, beginning in 1620 when the Wampanoag tribe welcomed the Pilgrims (greeting them in English), provided food for them during the first difficult winter on the New England coast, and then shared the first Thanksgiving. Narragansett representatives spoke about the architectural contributions and history of their people. The Passamaquoddy from Maine, known for their intricate quill work and importance to the early settlers as trappers and fishers, also discussed their role in American history. Other Native Americans who participated in discussions were from the Shinnecock tribe of Long Island, New York; Indian Mountain Lookout Intertribal Native Americans, New York; the Lumbee, Haliwa and Coharie from North Carolina; Catawba from South Carolina; Tunica-Biloxi of Louisiana; Chippewa of Wisconsin; and Potowatomi of Michigan. These participants were all members of the Coalition of Eastern Native Americans (CENA), an organization whose purpose is to identify and assist in the socio-economic and organizational development of Eastern Native Americans. CENA includes non-reservation, urban and federally recognized tribes and groups. Lucille Dawson served as program coordinator, assisted by Thomas Kavanagh. The multi-year program was shaped by the Native Americans Advisory Group, including Alfonso Ortiz, Louis Bruce, Dell Hymes, Rayna Green, Clydia Nahwooksy, William Sturtevant, and Barre Toelken.
Participants
Six Nations, Iroquois participants Cayuga Sam Crogan, lacrosse player Alisa Mike, dancer Nancy Poodry, bead worker Bill Printup, lacrosse player Dean Printup, lacrosse player Elwood Printup, lacrosse player Gene Printup, lacrosse player Elizabeth Silversmith, cook Mohawk Mary Adams, basket maker Mike Adams, basket maker Elwood Greene, silversmith David Hill, lacrosse player Stanley Hill, bone carver Woody Hill, dancer Allan Jock, dancer Marshall Joseph, wood carver Isabelle Skye, cornhusk worker Beatrice Thomas, dancer Russell Thomas, dancer Margaret Terrence, basket maker Cam Wilson, bone carver Marge Wilson, cook Wanda Wilson, dancer Oneida Irving Chrisjohn, cornhusk worker Mrs. Chrisjohn, cornhusk worker Onondaga Paula Babcock, dancer Kevin Hill, lacrosse player Martin Jimmerson, dancer Angie Miller, dancer Huron Miller, singer, discussant, Buffalo, New York Barry Powless, dancer Irving Powless, Sr., 1906-1985, discussant Irving Powless, Jr., discussant Nancy Powless, dancer Jacob Skye, dancer Perry Williams, dancer Debbie Williams, dancer Ruby Williams, dancer Guy Williams, dancer Tim Williams, dancer Seneca Herbert Buck, singer Lydia Buck, dancer Sadie Buck, dancer Herb Dowdy, 1919-1990, singer Fidelia George, dancer Helen Harris, dancer Linda Harris, dancer Steve Harris, dancer Elijah Harris, dancer Diosa Hill, dancer Marty Jamerson, dancer Darwin John, dancer Edith John, cook Coleen Johnny John, dancer Kevin Johnny John, dancer Mike Johnny John, dancer Richard Johnny John, singer Vera Miller, cook, bead worker Ken Poodry, cradleboard maker Eddie Scott, dancer Elmer Shongo, 1929-1985, dancer, cook Corbett Sundown, 1909-1992, discussant Lloyd Thomas, 1946-, dancer Marlene Thomas, dancer Hazel Thompson, dancer Phillip Thompson, dancer Tuscarora Joe Chrysler, lacrosse player Orzey Cusick, lacrosse stick maker Emma Greene, cook Alvis Hewitt, 1931-1999, cook manager Rick Hill, discussant Nina Jacobs, dancer Phillip Jacobs, lacrosse player Bob Patterson, lacrosse player Kevin Patterson, lacrosse stick maker John Patterson, lacrosse stick maker Helen Printup, cook Mary Rickard, lacrosse stick maker Ellene Rickard, lacrosse stick maker Noreen Shongo, cook Ron Smith, lacrosse player Wilmer Wilson, 1925-2002, discussant Coalition of Eastern Native Americans Participants Aroostook Association Terry Polchies, discussant Catawba Roger Trimnal, discussant Chippewa Delores Bainbridge, discussant Elizabeth Cadotte, discussant Haliwa Linda Lynch, discussant Archibald Lynch, discussant Hassanamisco Louise Wilcox, discussant Indian Mountain Lookout Inter-Tribal Native Americans Asenith D. Vogt, discussant Lumbee Arlene Locklear, 1952-1979, discussant June Sampson, discussant W.J. Strickland, discussant Micmac Tom Battiste Mohegan Virginia Daamon, discussant Narragansett Alberta Wilcox, discussant Mary Brown, discussant Potawatomi Joe Winchester, discussant Leroy Wesaw, 1925-1994, discussant Shinnecock Eva Smith, discussant Alice Franklin, discussant Tunica Biloxi Rose Marie Pierite, 1900-1987 Wampanoag Komi Oweant Haynes, 1958-, discussant
Collection Creator
Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
See more items in
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1975 Festival of American Folklife
Archival Repository
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
Identifier
CFCH.SFF.1975, Series 6
Type
Archival materials
Collection Citation
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1975 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Collection Restrictions
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1503511974073-1503511974146-3
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk512b5c4dc-6be5-47cb-809b-74a908534241

Related Content

  • Online Finding AidSmithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1975 Festival of American Folklife

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