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Type:
Archival materials
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 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.
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Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1975 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
