Press Release: Lumbee Tribe of N.C. Prepares for “Dance of the Harvest Moon” Powwow. Powwow Competition is Postponed for Friday Due to Inclement Weather, (Traffic Detour Information also Included)
Press Release
Lumbee Tribe of N.C. Prepares for “Dance of the Harvest Moon” Powwow. Powwow Competition is Postponed for Friday Due to Inclement Weather, (Traffic Detour Information also Included)
Pembroke, NC (September 25, 2024) – The Lumbee Tribe “Dance of the Harvest Moon” Powwow competitions which were scheduled for Friday, September 27, 2024 are now postponed due to anticipated rains from Tropical Storm Helene. Friday’s School Day performance is canceled. The powwow dancers may still register on Friday from 3 pm till 6:30 pm and on Saturday from 7:00 am till 11:30 am. Grand entry will begin for the Powwow on Saturday at noon.The staff of the Lumbee Tribe of N.C. is busy preparing to welcome you for their biggest event all year. Their teams are putting up tents, working on seating, preparing the grounds and much more as preparations continue this week for the upcoming “Dance of the Harvest Moon” Powwow. The tribe is excited to welcome friends from around the nation to the powwow celebrations which are now scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 28th through Sunday, September 29th, 2024. The annual Powwow celebrates the rich history and culture of American Indian and Indigenous People.
The “Dance of the Harvest Moon” Powwow officially begins with Grand Entry at noon on Saturday with the second Grand Entry at 7:00 pm on Saturday. The Grand Entry on Sunday begins at 1 pm. The Lumbee Powwow has something for everyone. Guest will enjoy Powwow dancing, dance contest for men and women and a drum contest. Dancers from across the nation have multiple chances to place with different dance specials throughout the weekend including a Women’s Jingle Special Competition, Men’s Fancy Spotlight special, Father/Daughter Two-Step Special on Saturday as well as both members of the Head staff will also have a dance special.
Guest may also learn more about American Indian Culture as they visit the “living village” and see demonstrators showcasing Native craftsmanship and expertise throughout the weekend. Guest may also try Lumbee food favorites with the various food vendors. Camping spaces are available all weekend. Wash house facilities are also available onsite.
Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery welcomed everyone to the festivities this week through a video on social media and the tribal website. “We are days away from the Lumbee Powwow and our team and our staff here at the tribe are preparing the grounds and we’re getting everything ready,” said Lowery. “We just want to welcome you to come on out, bring your friends and your family and let’s enjoy the powwow this weekend.“
Co-Emcees for the Powwow are JD Moore and Marty Thurman. JD Moore is a member of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe of Southeastern NC. He is a manager of Nuclear Site Services with Duke Energy. JD serves as a commissioner of the NC American Indian Heritage Commission. Marty Thurman resides in Shawnee, Oklahoma with his wife Sophia Lynn and their 3 children, Tyler, Tylyn, and Tye. He represents the Sac and Fox, Comanche, Absentee Shawnee and Delaware nations. His parents are the late Paulette (Coffey) TallChief and the late Marvin Thurman of Shawnee, OK. Marty has been dancing almost all of his life beginning as a fancy dancer, a grass dancer, and as a prairie chicken dancer. Along with dancing, Marty is one of the lead singers for the Sizzortail drum group. He has also had the honor of singing with many accomplished southern drums.
The Lumbee Powwow Head Male Dancer is Louis Campbell and the Head Female Dancer is Ciena Fedor. The lineup features Host drums’ War Paint (Northern Drum) and Ottertrail (Southern Drum).
Ottertrail was formed in 1992 in the Northeastern U.S. by Alexander Santos, Will Mosley, Matt Harmon, Urie Ridgeway, Benjamin Roldan, Mark Hicks and Harry J. Gould, this intertribal southern style powwow singing group eventually grew to include many other singers from across the U.S. including Mr. Don Neconie and his son, Pete "Echohawk" Neconie who were instrumental in the teachings of southern plains music. They received their name from a suggestion given to them by the late Johnny Lone Chief, (Otoe, Kaw). The name was to symbolize some aspect of southern style plains culture so the name Ottertrail was born and it indeed represents a very important item of clothing worn by the southern straight dancer, the otter drag or trail. Ottertrail were recipients of a N.A.M.A. (Native American Music Awards) nomination in 1997 for their "Family Songs Southern Style" album and a 1998 award for a c.d. entitled "Various Drums at Gathering of Nations" under the S.O.A.R. label. Their recording with S.O.A.R. entitled "Red River Crossing" (which earned them a GRAMMY award for "Best Producer of the Year") and one entitled "Brotherhood" by Red Lightning Records out of Canada featuring the Sioux Nation Singers, have established them as a popular drum group in Canada as well. Their new c.d. entitled "Trailblazin" produced by "Red Blanket Prods." is out and we hope you enjoy it as well. Al Santos has also been featured as guest artist on various recordings including "Brule", The motion picture theme song for Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible" just to name a few.
WarPaint was established in 2013 in Backswamp, North Carolina and since then have traveled all over Indian country hosting and competing in various tribal celebrations. Comprised mainly of Kahtehnuʔá·ka·ʔ Tuscarora and Lumbee, but also have members from the Catawba, Lakota, Dakota, and Ojibway. A main goal of the drum group was to be able to write songs in their own language and showcase it across powwow country. They also hope inspire young people to get involved in their culture, and show that southeastern Native people, are still here.
Detour on Deep Branch and Highway 710 Guest visiting the Lumbee Powwow are encouraged to follow detour signs to enter the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center due to a road closure for the construction of a highway roundabout at the intersection of N.C. Highway 710 and Deep Branch Road near Nic’s Gas Station. Travelers from Interstate 95 may travel Highway I-74 Bypass to the Pembroke Exit, turn left at Alternate US 74 (Old Highway 74) and then right at Recreation Center Road. This route will bring you directly to the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center entrance. Travelers from Fayetteville / Red Springs area may travel Highway 710 to Oxendine Road, which will detour back to Deep Branch Road and onto Recreation Road at the Cultural Center.
Admission for the Lumbee Powwow is $10 for adults, $5 for Youth (18 and under), $5 for Seniors (55+), $5 for Military (with ID), and $5 for a Sunday Only Pass, $20 for a Weekend Pass and children 5 years old and under are free. Visitors will also have the same pay and parking procedures as 2023. Guest will drive onto the cultural center grounds, parking in the center parking lot near the pool area and walk across to pay.
