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“Drums along the Hudson” beats a path to Inwood Hill Park
“Tambores a lo largo del Hudson” marcan el compás hacia Inwood Hill Park

“Drums along the Hudson” beats a path to Inwood Hill Park

Story by Robin Lawless

Photos by Q PHOTO NYC

A dancer in traditional Native American dress performed as part of the 10th Annual “Drums Along the Hudson” festival.
A dancer in traditional Native American dress performed as part of the 10th Annual “Drums Along the Hudson” festival.

“Laugh, shout, be happy! It’s a great day today!”

That was the opening blessing Mohawk Leader Tom Porter gave the crowd this past Sun., May 20th at the 10th Annual “Drums Along the Hudson Festival” at Inwood Hill Park.

The celebration of Native American heritage was a multi-cultural party featuring exhibits that highlighted dancing and drumming traditions, arts and crafts and international food.

Groups representing all Five Indian Nations attended the event dressed in traditional garb.

And the northern Manhattan park was a natural place for the gathering, as it is the last remaining forest in the city and served as the major hunting and fishing grounds for the native Lenape people over 3000 years ago.

For many, it was a chance to shed off the vestiges of city life and connect with the past.

“This is an opportunity for us to share some of our ancient culture with the community,” said Roberto Borrero of the Taino Cultural Society, after his group performed in the opening ceremony.

The Taino people originated in Caribbean and were the first tribe to encounter Christopher Columbus.

“This is the place where natives fished and lived,” said Jane Schachat, former administrator for parks in Northern Manhattan, who retired in 2007 after 26 years of service.

“We’re walking where they walked. It’s remarkable it still exists,” she added.

Festival-goers of all ages enjoyed a day filled with music, story and dance.
Festival-goers of all ages enjoyed a day filled with music, story and dance.

Schachat, who was honored at the festival for her work restoring northern Manhattan’s two parks, Inwood Hill and Fort Tyron, was credited with being part of the reason that the local parks have retained their stature.

“I’m very moved,” Schachat said of the honor. “These parks were my passion.”

LaDonna Harris, President of Americans for Indian Opportunity was also honored for her contributions to humanitarian causes and environmental stewardship.

Ancient residents of the area were also given credit for their stewardship of the parks. “The Native Americans were the original environmentalists,” said WABC –TV anchor Sandra Bookman, who hosted the event.

“Their legacy to us is that this area is here for us to enjoy because they took such good care of it,” she said.

Elected officials, including Borough President Scott Stringer, New York State Senator Adrian Espaillat, and New York City Councilmember Robert Jackson, among others, stopped by to express their support.

A participant in formal dress.
A participant in formal dress.

A white pine tree, an Iroquois symbol of peace, was planted in the park to commemorate the memory of community leaders that have been lost in the past year.

Later in the afternoon, a procession of individuals dressed in colorful dress entered the pow-wow field and kicked up some dust, performing traditional dances to pounding drum sounds while a large crowd watched.

Greywolf Richards, a North-Eastern Band Cherokee Indian who lives in the Bronx, wore red and black war paint on his face and performed in a dance called the sneak up.

“We live in a concrete jungle here, we’re urban Indians. Being able to dance here, near the water, is a way to reconnect with Mother Earth,” he said.

The festival also included performances from a variety of groups that pointed to the unique diversity of New York City.

“It’s about bringing people together, and enjoying each other cultures,” said Carl Nelson who produced the event for Lotus Music and Dance.

These included The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, dancers from the Jacques d’Amboise’s National Dance Institute, the New York Chinese Cultural Center, the Harambee Dance Company (African dance), the Val-Inc (Afro-Electronic), the Kasibahagua Taino Cultural Society (Caribbean), and Kahurangi Maori Dance Company (New Zealand) also performed.

The festival included performers from the New York Chinese Cultural Center.
The festival included performers from the New York Chinese Cultural Center.

Festival attendees were grateful for the brilliant day, and appreciated having the event in the neighborhood.

“It’s great that there is still the reminder, and that the heritage is celebrated,” said Park Terrace resident Wendy Herlich, who brought her daughter Vera.

And the message was reflected throughout the day, as those dressed in far more casual clothing joined those in elegant formal beaded headwear, complete with tomahawks, and dress on the great, sweeping fields of the park, to dance, to take a closer look and share a few words – and mostly, smile.

“Although we may look different, all of us are the same,” said producer Nelson.

To learn more about the event go to: http://www.drumsalongthehudson.org.

 

“Tambores a lo largo del Hudson” marcan el compás hacia Inwood Hill Park

Historia por Robin Lawless

Fotos por Q PHOTO NYC

The festival included performers from the New York Chinese Cultural Center.
El festival incluyó a intérpretes del New York Chinese Cultural Center.

“Ría, grite, sea feliz!  Hoy es un gran día”!

Esta fue la bendición de apertura que el Líder Mohawk Tom Porter pronunció ante la multitud este pasado domingo 20 de mayo, en el transcurso del 10mo. “Festival Anual Tambores A lo largo del Hudson” en Inwood Hill Park.

La celebración de la herencia Nativo Americana resultó ser una fiesta multi-cultural, la cual contó con exhibiciones que destacaron las tradiciones del baile y el tambor, artes y manualidades, y comida internacional.

Participaron grupos representando a las Cinco Naciones Indígenas, luciendo su vestimenta tradicional.

Y el parque  en el norte de Manhattan  resultó ser el lugar natural para la reunión, ya que es el último bosque restante en la ciudad y hace mas de 3000 años, sirvió como terreno para la caza y la pesca para el pueblo nativo Lenape.

Para muchos, fue una oportunidad para liberarse de los vestigios de la vida citadina y conectarse con el pasado.

“Esta es una oportunidad para nosotros  compartir algo de nuestra cultura antigua con la comunidad”, dijo Roberto Borrero de la Sociedad Cultural Taína, luego de que su grupo ejecutara durante la ceremonia de apertura.

El pueblo Taíno tuvo su origen en el Caribe y fueron la primera tribu que encontró Cristóbal Colón.

“Este es el lugar donde los nativos pescaban y residían”, dijo Jane Schachat, antigua administradora de parques para Manhattan Norte, quien se retiró en el 2007, luego de 26 años de servicio.

A participant in formal dress.
Un participante en atuendo formal.

“Estamos caminando donde ellos lo hacían.  Resulta sorprendente que aún exista”, agregó. Schachat, quien fue homenajeada durante el festival por su trabajo en la restauración de dos parques en el norte de Manhattan, Inwood Hill y Fort Tyron, se le atribuyó el ser parte de la razón por la cual los parques han mantenido su importancia.

“Me siento muy conmovida”, expresó Schachat refiriéndose al homenaje. “Estos parques fueron mi pasión”.

LaDonna Harris, Presidenta de Americanos por la Oportunidad Indígena fue también homenajeada, por sus contribuciones a causas humanitarias y a la gestión medioambiental.

Su legado fue el dejarnos esta área para nuestro disfrute porque la cuidaron muy bien.

Oficiales electos, incluyendo a Scott Stringer, presidente del Condado, el Senador Estatal Adriano Espaillat, y el Concejal de Nueva York Robert Jackson entre otros, se detuvieron para expresar su respaldo.

Un árbol de pino blanco, un Iroquois símbolo de paz, se sembró en el parque para conmemorar la memoria de los líderes comunitarios que nos han dejado en el transcurso del pasado año.

Entrada la tarde, una procesión de personas en colorido vestuario ingresaron al campo pow-wow y patearon un poco de polvo, ejecutando danzas tradicionales al sonido de los tambores mientras la multitud les observaba.

Festival-goers of all ages enjoyed a day filled with music, story and dance.
Asistentes al festival de todas las edades disfrutaron de un día pletórico de música, historia y danza.

Greywolf Richards, un indígena Cherokee de North-Eastern Band quien reside en el Bronx, se pintó su rostro de rojo y negro y ejecutó una danza conocida como arriba la serpiente.

“Aquí vivimos en una jungla de concreto, somos indios urbanos.  El poder bailar aquí, cerca del agua, es una forma de reconectarse con la Madre Tierra”, expresó.

El festival incluyó interpretaciones de una variedad de grupos que demuestran la excepcional diversidad de la ciudad de Nueva York.

“Se trata de reunir a la gente, y disfrutar de nuestras culturas”, expresó Carl Nelson, quien fue productor del evento para  Lotus Music and Dance.

Entre los grupos presentes estaban The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, bailarines de Jacques d’Amboise National Dance Institute, New York Chinese Cultural Center, Harambee Dance Company (danza Africana), Val-Inc Afro-Electronic), Kasibahagua Taino Cultural Society(Caribeño), y Kahurangi Maori Dance Company (Nueva Zelandia).

A dancer in traditional Native American dress performed as part of the 10th Annual “Drums Along the Hudson” festival.
Un bailarín en atuendo tradicional de Nativo Americano ejecutó como parte del 10mo “Festival de Tambores a lo largo del Hudson”.

Los asistentes al festival agradecieron lo hermoso del día, y apreciaron el tener el evento en su vecindad.

“Es extraordinario que aún recordamos y celebramos la herencia”, expresó Wendy Herlich, residente de Park Terrace, quien vino con su hija Vera.

Y el mensaje se reflejó durante todo el día, mientras aquellos vistiendo un ropaje mucho mas casual se unieron a aquellos que lucían elegantes adornos de cabeza con pedrería, completo con su hacha de guerra, y vestuario en los espaciosos terrenos del parque, para danzar, echar un vistazo y compartir unas palabras—y más que nada, sonreír.

“Aunque aparentamos ser diferentes, todos somos una misma cosa”, apuntó Nelson.

Para conocer más sobre el evento, acuda a http://www.drumsalongthehudson.org.

 

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