Schemitzun 2016 took place at the Mashantucket Cultural Grounds hosted by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

Celebrating a rich heritage, our Veterans, Elders, Warriors and more this event was a family friendly cultural experience that I highly recommend everyone experience at least once in their life time.

The event hosted Tribe members from all over the US along with hundreds of dancers and singers who participated in various contest.  The contest included Smoke dancing, Warrior Dance, Fancy Feather and Shawl dances, Jingle dress, and traditional singers.

Among the participants where men, women, youth and elders alike. There was also over a dozen vendors selling fine Native American arts and crafts such as beaded pieces, baskets, furs, regalia, tee-shirts, jeweler and more all made by certified Native American Tribal Members.

Many tribes where represented during the event and this included my own tribe the Taino people of Borinquen. It made me very proud to see our flag escorted in during the grand entry.

And lets not forget the food authentic traditional recipes where offered such as clam chowder, fry bread, native tacos, bison burgers and lots of other tasty foods, and if you haven’t tried a native taco your really missing out on something delicious.

While at the powwow you could also explore a 17th century Eastern Woodland Village set up with live exhibitions like cooking over an open fire, story telling and bead work.

If you’d like to learn more about the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation you can visit https://www.mptn-nsn.gov/default.aspx

For more information on Schemitzun visit https://schemitzun.mptn-nsn.gov/GCPWoodlandVillage.aspx

We had a wonderful time and look forward to next years Schemitzun Feast of the Green Corn 2017.