At the 2014 Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow, from left,
2013 Powwow Princess Dee Dee Jackson, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell, 2014 Powwow Princess Sassamin Weeden.
MASHPEE – The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is hosting their 95th Annual Powwow this weekend, and the event is underway.
The theme for this year’s three-day event is “Honoring Our Circle-Breaking the Cycle of Addiction”.
This year’s Powwow will include traditional dance and drumming contests, Wampanoag cuisine, artisans and vendors.
Contestants in the contests will have a chance to win up to $30,000 in prizes.
“Ninety-five years going strong and it’s a ceremony and gathering of our people, it’s a homecoming of the gathering of our people,” said Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell.
Fireball, a ceremony that offers healing for people who are seriously ill, will kick-off at dusk on Saturday.
The traditional clambake which is prepared by The Lady Hawk Singers, will be held on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.
The coronation of the Powwow Princess will also take place on Sunday afternoon.
For a young woman to be considered as a candidate for “Pow Wow Princess”, she must be between the ages of 16 and 21, single, active in her community, participated in prior Pow Wows and have strong knowledge of her tribe’s history and culture.
The event is being held at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in East Falmouth.
“We come out with all our tribal traditions and culture and language, food and we open it up to the public and it’s such a good time,” said Cromwell.
Admission for adults is $13 and $8 for children 6 to 12 years old and seniors 65 and over.
Admission is free for children under the age of 5.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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