Nov 23, 2012

Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow

Barbara Haddock Taylor 0 Comment The Baltimore Sun Baltimore American Indian Center, National American Indian Heritage Month, Native American, powwow

12 photos

Dancers dressed in splendid regalia march into the Patterson high school gym to the thundering beat of drums. They represent more than forty Native American tribes, some from as far away as Washington state, Arizona, South Dakota, Maine and Florida, who were represented in last weekend’s 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow. The two-day event brought together Indians and non-Indians alike for a celebration in honor of National American Indian Heritage Month.

: Phyllis Campbell of Blacksburg VA, is a member of the Choctaw Nation. She attended the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow, which was held at Patterson High School. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: William Charles Warwick Jr. of the Lumbee-Cheraw Tribe, attends the 38th annual American Indian Center Pow Wow. He is dressed in northern mens’ traditional dance regalia. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: A display of beaded purses hangs from a bar at the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow. The beadwork is done by Richard Waller and 150 members of his family. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Dancer Chandler Blunt of the Haliwa-Naponi Tribe of North Carolina performs at the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Delsha Blunt, left, and her daughter Nalin, 7, are members of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe of North Carolina. They attended the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow, which was held at Patterson High School. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Keith Anderson of Portsmouth VA, a Catawba Cherokee, takes a break at the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Beadwork made and worn by Phyllis Campbell, a member of the Choctaw Nation from Blacksburg, VA. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/ Baltimore Sun)

: Christie Lincoln, center, sits with her niece Avani Johnson, left, and her son Carter Lincoln, 6, at the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow. They are from Baltimore and are part of the Wampanoag Tribe. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Kelley Keene of Baltimore looks at beaded purses and jewelry made by the Richard Waller family of Native American beaders. Mr. Waller and 150 members of his family work on the beaded creations. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: A male dance performer wears an elaborate headdress at the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Anna Johnson holds her ten month old baby, Makai, at the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow. They are from the Crow Tribe and live in Rockville. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Georgie Sparks, Elyse Jackson and Dolly Lynch of Durham NC look at photos on Ms. Lynch’s cell phone at the 38th annual Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow. They are part of the Haliwa-Saponi Lumbee Tribe. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

Around the corner, a visitor could learn to make native American fry bread, a delicious treat of deep-fried rolled dough topped with honey or powdered sugar, or try indigenous coffee grown and roasted by native peoples.

Ed Simermeyer, vice chair of the Baltimore American Indian Center, says that powwows are held so that the community can gather, practice and pass on their traditions. His son John, a Tuscarora dancer who led the smoke dance, says “especially in urban areas, where there are no designated reservations, a powwow is important so that community members can come together.”

They can also be an important way to educate non-Indians, who can see dramatic and colorful dancing, hear native music and drumming, taste native foods and see traditional crafts being made by real artisans. The powwow is a showcase for tribal styles and traditions.

This year’s powwow was especially important to the local native American community, which has just inaugurated its first museum, the Baltimore American Indian Center Native American Heritage Museum, which is located at 113 S. Broadway.

Baltimore American Indian Center Powwow

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