Pow-wow in the park
Pow-wow in the park
Story by Adrian Cabreja
Photos by Joseph Rodman
It was time to dance.
Thousands of residents joined together at Inwood Hill Park this past Sun., Jun. 1st as Lotus Music and Dance presented the annual Drums Along the Hudson: A Native American Festival and Multicultural Celebration. The day-long festival is a celebration of Native American dance, food and drumming traditions.
Founded in 2002, the celebration features the city’s only known open-air pow-wow, led by Louis Mofsie and the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers with host drums Heyna Second Sons and Silver Cloud. Other performers included Saung Budaya Indonesian Dance Group and Kotchegna African Dance Company.
Among the individuals and organizations recognized for contributions made to environmental and humanitarian causes were President and Founder of the American Indian Law Alliance Tonya Gonnella Frichner, Esq. (Onondaga) and Honorable David N. Dinkins, 106th Mayor of the City of New York.
This year’s festival featured an environmental tent, with appearances by Captain Planet, courtesy of the Captain Planet Foundation, and a free bicycle valet for attendees who rode their bike to the park.
Attendees also took part in planting an annual Tree of Peace, a ceremony officiated by Mohawk Elder Tom Porter which pays tribute to the memory of community leaders who have passed away.
For more information on Lotus Music and Dance, please visit lotusmusicanddance.org orcall212.627.1076.
