Smyrna times., 1926-12-01
NANTICOEE TRIBE OF INDIANS
HOLD THANKSGIVING POW-WOW
ANNUAL CELEBRATION is HELD
AT RIVERDALE PARK, SUSSEX
MANY Are Present-Hundreds of the
Spectators Watch the Dances and
Many Other Exercises Held

DOnnlng war paint, dressed IN IN
dian garbs and bedecked with beads
and feathers in an effort to preserve
their identity as descendants of the
once powerful tribe Of Indians which
inhabited the shores of Indian River
and its tributaries, members Of the
Nanticoke Indian Association, recog-
nized as lineal descendants of the
famous Nanticokes, held their annual
Thanksgiving Day pow-wow and cere-
monial at River Dale Park, reserva-
tion of Chief Wyniaco, head Of the as
sociation on the Indian River Thurs
day afternoon. Chief Wyniaco, known
to the Engish-speaking peoples as
William Russell. Clark, entertained
Wednesday and Thursday the thirty
members Of the tribe, together with
large number Of visiting chiefs, and
professors from the University Of
Pennsylvania, who for the past five
years have taken great interest in
the association. There were hundreds
of interested spectators from Della
ware, Maryland and Pennsylvania
present to witness the ceremonials
held in a wood back of the home Of
Chief Wyniaco.
March to POw-wOw In Indian Garb
The program of the afternoon start
ed at 2 o'clock, when the Chief and
tribesmen, visiting chiefs and braves
and distinguished guests marched
from the shores of the river to the
spot in the wood where the pow-wow
took place. A portion of the woods
was roped off in order to give them a
chance to go through the different
dances, while hundreds of people stood
by and watched with keen interest.
The council fire was lighted as soon
as the tribesmen were seated, and was
kept burning throughout the cere-
monies.
Robert f. Clark (Mawwit), son Of
the chief of the Nanticokes and prob
ably his successor, dressed in hand
some costume such as befitted the son
Of the head of the tribe, offered a
brief prayer to the Sun God. After
invocation to the Great Spirit, the
pipe Of peace was passed around and
Chief Wyniaco extended greetings. "a
welcome dance followed then the
green corn dance. Other dances Civ
en- during the afternoon were the war,
scalp and snake dances, in which the
members of the tribe and visiting
chiefs and braves took part, while the
tOm-tOms were beaten.
Excavations in Indian River Section
The excavations showed the mounds
to be of curious origin, and establish
ed beyond a doubt that they We're
made by the forefathers, who a cen
tury and half ago held most Of the
land Of the Eastern Shore of Mary
land and all Of Delaware north of In
dian River Inlet to line drawn from
the Inlet over to Dover, Delaware's
capital, and thence due west to the
mouth of the Susquehanna River.
From what could be learned through
traditions, explorations, etc, the be-
lief prevails that there were thous-
ands of this tribe located in this terri
tory.
The Nanticokes, it was learned, as
well as all of the tribes of the Pow
hatan Confederacy to which they be-
longed since they were discovered by
Captain John Smith in 1908, num-
mified their chiefs to a great extent
like the Egyptians of Biblical times.
During the explorations no skel-
etons were found, but the supposition
is that they were built over the re-
mains of some of the great chiefs.
Pottery, tomahawks and arrowheads
were dug out, and many of them are
now in possession of the descendants.
Along the shores of the Indian River
can be found scattered at different
points broken pieces Of arrows. This
is especially true in the section near
Warwick and at points between Oak
Orchard and Millsboro. Traces of the
Nanticokes have been found in the
vicinity Of Sandy Landing, on the OPP
posite side Of the river from Oak Or
chard.
What the scientists found proved
conclusively to them that the inhabi-
tants of the Indian river section, who
bear all of the earmarks Of Indian ex-
traction, were lineal descendants Of
the Nanticokes, who once lived there
\ DIR. Speck gave valuable assistance il
the establishment Of the Nanticoke In
dian Association and became an hon
orary member, As we'll as some Of tht
other professors engaged in the re
search work.
The territory, now occupied by th'
members Of the Association and onc'
inhabited by the Nanticokes, prove
an interesting section to visit, ira
verse and study. This section wa
once the northern limits Of the Pow
hatan empire, and the northermost o
the Nanticoke villages. The territor!
extending for two or three miles j