Celebrate Traditions at 67th Annual Shinnecock Powwow This Weekend

The 67th annual Shinnecock Powwow starts on Friday, running throughout Labor Day weekend, and the entire community is invited to observe the Native American tradition.

Charles K. Smith II, a Shinnecock, and Sandon Jacobs, a Lumbee, will MC the weekend's activities, which include drum and dance contests with over $50,000 in prize money, entertainment from the Thunderbird dancers, sunset fire lighting, and over 100 vendors selling Native arts and crafts.

To get to the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, use West Gate Road off Montauk Highway in Southampton, and proceed south to Powwow grounds, as directed.

“The Powwow is a wonderful event for the Nation, a time when we can celebrate our long history and reach out to our neighbors to help them to better understand our people,” the Shinnecock Trustee Chairman, Daniel Collins, told Patch recently. “We have always prided ourselves on being good neighbors, and want to continue that tradition by helping those with questions better understand our point of view. Educating others through an event like our annual Powwow is a great and fun opportunity for our Nation.”

On Friday, the performances will take place in categories of the 18 and up Men’s Chicken & Grass; Women’s Fancy, Jingle, Eastern Blanket, and Traditional will be held.

On Saturday, the Thunder Bird Family will host a hand drum competition in honor of Chief Thunder Bird and the winner will receive $500 cash and a hand drum.

Monday's activities will include Tom “Little Bear” Crippen Men’s Fancy Dance Memorial Contest, the performance of the men’s and women’s smoke dance and the distribution of trophies and prize money.

The grounds open at 3 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. Saturday through Monday. Grand entry to the shows are 7 p.m. on Friday, 12:30 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 12:30 p.m. on Monday.

Admission is $15 for adults, and $10 for seniors. Children under 5 are free.